Ceremony at Princeton Cemetery Honors President Grover Cleveland – Princeton, NJ Local News
“I tried so hard to do well.”
President Grover Cleveland
The Army Reserve’s 99th Readiness Division held a wreath laying ceremony at the grave of President Grover Cleveland in Princeton Cemetery on Saturday, March 18.
For many years, the White House military office was responsible for coordinating the annual placement of presidential wreaths at the graves and resting places of former presidents and other famous Americans. Presidents are honored on their birthday.
Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837. His relationship with Princeton began in 1896, when he gave a speech at Princeton University’s sesquicentennial celebration. Cleveland and his first wife loved Princeton so much that they took up residence on Hodge Road after his second term as president ended. Cleveland was later elected a trustee of the university and remained active in school affairs until his death, advocating for the development of the graduate college and opposing Woodrow Wilson’s Quadruple Plan. Its association with Princeton is commemorated by the Cleveland Tower of Graduate College.
Speakers at Saturday’s ceremony included Maj. Gen. Rodney Faulk, commanding general of the 99th Army Reserve Readiness Division, Mr. Robert Maguire, Civilian Assistant to the Secretary of the Army (Emeritus) for the New Jersey, Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and Mark Texel, Administrator of the New Jersey Office of Historic Sites & Parks.
One of nine children of a Presbyterian minister, Cleveland was born in New Jersey in 1837. He grew up in upstate New York and worked as a lawyer in Buffalo before becoming a politician. He served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.
