Collingswood, New Jersey-U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker, New Jersey Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt and South Jersey members of American Gold Star Mothers for a pre-Memorial Day roundtable discussion about efforts to honor survivors of those killed in service to the United States.

“This Memorial Day weekend we remember the heroes who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We also remember in a special way their families who are living legacies to their bravery & commitment to country,” said Rep. Norcross.

As part of the roundtable, Rep. Norcross and Senator Booker facilitated a dialogue about possible federal legislative opportunities to serve families of fallen U.S. service members.

“These parents got the knock on the door no mom or dad ever wants to get. They carry the agony of loss in their hearts every day. We, as a nation, owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice. I’m committed to working in Congress to salute and serve these families, just as their sons and daughters served our great nation,” added Rep. Norcross.

“As we pause this Memorial Day to honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our nation’s freedoms, let us also never forget the profound gratitude we owe their families for their sacrifice on behalf of our nation,” said Sen. Booker.  “We have a moral obligation to serve these brave families as well as they have served us.  That is why I am committed to working with Congressman Norcross and the rest of our Congressional delegation in lifting the families of our fallen heroes up by letting them know they will never stand alone.”

Rep. Norcross, Sen. Booker, and Assemblywoman Lampitt were joined today by Jack and Judith Young of Moorestown who lost their son, Marine Sgt. Jeffrey Young in 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as Melinda Kane of Cherry Hill who lost her son, Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Kane in Afghanistan in 2010.

“On this Memorial Day, it is my hope that we honor and remember the sons and daughters who have died for our nation. We are the home of the free because of their bravery,” said Melinda Kane.

Today’s meeting comes one day after a bill authored & introduced by Rep. Norcross in the House of Representatives passed a final legislative hurdle to rename the Deptford, New Jersey Post Office in honor of Army 1^st Lt. Salvatore Corma, II of Deptford. Corma was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2010. He’s widely credited with saving the lives of as many as 19 fellow service members. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

Rep. Norcross and Senator Booker are scheduled to pay tribute to New Jersey’s fallen heroes by attending Memorial Day observances throughout the weekend.

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