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Montville Township will mark 250 years of American freedom this Memorial Day with a special ceremony honoring nine local Revolutionary War veterans whose service helped secure the nation’s independence.
The ceremony, titled “250 Years of Freedom: Honoring Montville’s First Patriots,” takes place Monday, May 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Community Park near the Tank Monument in Montville, NJ. The event is presented by Montville Township and VFW Post 5481.
The program recognizes nine men from the area who served during the Revolutionary War: John Blowers, Thomas Cornelius Doremus, Conrad Esler, John Esler, Nathaniel Gaines, Jonathan Morgan, David Provost, John Sanford, and Evernt Van Gelder. Their stories trace the path from Pequannock to Montville along the Route 202 corridor through Towaco and Pinebrook, a legacy that dates back to 1776.
Major Johnathan Hardin of Picatinny Arsenal will deliver the keynote address. Additional remarks come from local researchers Rick Crescente, a history teacher at Lazar Middle School, and Jeff Bonicioli of Montville Township Public Schools IT Services, both of whom helped uncover the records behind the names being honored.
The ceremony arrives during the country’s Semiquincentennial year, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Montville’s tribute brings that national milestone home with a focus on the residents who answered the call from this corner of Morris County.
Residents are invited to attend, pay respects, and learn the stories of the patriots who made the nation possible. The ceremony begins at 11:00 AM at the Tank Monument inside Community Park.
