Michael Perrone has submitted the following announcement to NutleyWatch regarding the upcoming 4th of July ceremonies being held at the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church on Friday morning at 10 am:
July 4th festivities will kick off with an extra big bang in Belleville Friday morning with the Belleville Historical Society rolling out two replica Revolutionary War cannon, and the Belleville Historical Commission unveiling a Belleville Historic Site plaque as it sponsors its annual Independence Day ceremony at the old Belleville Dutch Reformed Church, on the corners of Main and Rutgers at 10 am.
The annual event honors the sixty-six Revolutionary War officers and enlisted men buried in the church cemetery, one of the largest group of 1776 patriots buried at any one site in the U.S. The site is also the final resting place of Captain Josiah Hornblower, who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly during the war and later served in the Continental Congress. Hornblower was a strong promoter for the ratifying the U.S. Constitution.
The site is also the location of the only battle fought in Essex County during the American Revolution. The Battle of Second River was fought on the riverbank in front of the church on September 12, 1777. British and Hessian forces led by General Sir Henry Clinton invaded the area from what is now North Arlington. The fighting continued for two more days as militiamen from surrounding counties and the Continental Army arrived and joined in the fight. Brigadier General William Winds commanded the American forces. The patriots were forced to pull back as thousands of British and Hessian troops poured into town from North Arlington and a second British force advancing from Newark.
The final fighting took place on September 14 along the Second River above what is now Mill St and Union Ave. A plaque was dedicated in Branch Brook Park in 1932 to commemorate the site of the final battle (located on the boulder on the island where the road splits).
The ceremony will include the Roll Call of the Troops, reading of the Declaration of Independence, the laying of the Memorial Wreath, the singing of our National Anthem, the firing of a 21 Gun Cannon Salute and conclude with the playing of Taps.
To participate or for further information please call Michael Perrone at 973-780-7852 or email bell1776patriots@yahoo.com
Rain date would be Saturday July 5 at 10 am.
Update: Due to the messy weather forecast, the ceremony is in fact being moved to its rain date. It will now be held on Saturday, July 5th, at 10 AM.
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