Mt. Laurel Snubs Decorated Combat Veteran

Burlco GOP: Symbolism Over Substance Once Again

Mt. Laurel Snubs Decorated Combat Veteran  

The Burlington County Republican Party, once again putting symbolism before substance in its stance towards Veterans, denied Democratic state Assembly candidate, and decorated Iraq War combat veteran Bill Brown the opportunity to speak at the Mount Laurel Memorial Day event.

Brown’s request, made in front of school children and police award recipients at a Mount Laurel Council meeting, was publicly denied, prompting a chorus of boos from the capacity crowd, then publicly approved amid cheers from the audience, before being denied again in private the following day.

Republican Party leaders clearly came up with reasons why the former U.S. Navy SEAL and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal winner would not be able to speak.   “This is a new low, even for the Republicans,” said Burlington County Democratic Chairman Rick Perr. “Playing partisan political games with something as somber and significant as Memorial Day observances should not be tolerated. They should be ashamed of themselves.  

“Regardless of his politics or his party, Bill Brown is a man who risked his life, time and time again, for our freedom and liberty,” Perr continued. “And now, he has dedicated his civilian life to creating and enhancing educational opportunities for veterans.  “As a thank you for these past and current efforts, the Republicans treat him with the disdain and disrespect usually reserved for villains as opposed to giving him a true hero’s welcome,” Perr said.  

The Mount Laurel incident began innocently enough. Brown, a Mount Laurel resident, attended the Council meeting on May 18^th with two fellow combat veterans.  The township meeting room was packed with residents as the council had local elementary school students sitting with their members. They also were giving out the annual police department awards, which increased the attendance. During the public portion of the meeting, Brown first thanked the mayor and Council for inviting all Mount Laurel veterans to attend the Memorial Day event and then asked if it would be possible for him to speak at the event.  

At first, Mount Laurel Mayor Jim Keenan told Brown that he did not have the authority to let him speak and then changed his story and said that Brown could have been allowed to speak, but he should have made his request at an earlier council meeting.

These conflicting answers did not go over well with the council meeting audience as they were met with a loud chorus of boos – all caught on a videotape of the meeting that was made by one of Brown’s fellow veterans in attendance.

At that point, Deputy Mayor Peter McCaffrey interceded and assured Brown that he definitely would be able to speak at the event. This apparent change in policy in Brown’s favor brought a large cheer from the formerly booing audience. Thus, the meeting ended with Brown having been told that he would be able to address the Memorial Day event.

However, the following day, Brown received a phone call from a person identifying herself as McCaffrey’s assistant telling him that he would not be allowed to speak after all.

“Clearly, something happened between the meeting on one night and the phone call the following day,” said Perr. “Despite his potentially positive and uplifting message, the Republicans running Mount Laurel and Burlington County told a decorated Iraq War veteran they did not want him to participate in a Memorial Day event. This single action crystallizes all that is wrong with the Republican policies of elite exclusiveness.”

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