Rutgers—Camden Celebrates Veterans Day 2025

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This November 11th, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the Jeremy Kane Memorial Plaque by the flagpole in front of the library. Despite the wind and cold, the ceremony was solemn and gathered observers from the RUC faculty and student body. A brief salute was rendered by an honor guard of police officers as the wreath was laid.

The plaque stands in memoriam of Rutgers–Camden student Lance Corporal Jeremy Kane, USMC. He was a senior majoring in criminal science while serving in the National Guard when he was deployed to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan, and was subsequently killed in action on January 23rd 2010. In the years since, his plaque has become a minor landmark on the Rutgers Camden campus, serving as the locale for many events revolving around veterans.

New Jersey Assemblywoman Melinda Kane, mother of the fallen student, presented the wreath at the ceremony and gave a speech on the nature of her son’s sacrifice and the path of public service that it led her down.

“There’s always a level of emotion because I am in this position because of Jeremy’s death, and I never forget that.”

The assemblywoman was inspired by her son’s sacrifice to begin running for office, first with the Cherry Hill city council and then as a councilwoman for Camden County, and since then has gone on to represent New Jersey’s District 6 in the state legislature. She spoke a little on the nature of her service in the wake of her loss:

“…I believe that his loss makes me prepared to help others because I know what it’s like to go through tragedy and to have a heart that has dealt with loss, and I can understand when people are suffering and try to help them… whether it’s with dealing with economic issues or other issues that people in New Jersey are dealing with.”

The wreath laying and remembrance ceremony was followed the next day with the annual Veterans Day Luncheon, which was well attended by veteran members of the student body as well as the faculty and the greater Rutgers Camden Community. Attending both of those as a keynote speaker was Christian Cintron, senior coordinator for Rutgers Camden’s Office of Military Veterans Affairs. He reflected on the ceremony:

“Yeah, the wreath laying was awesome. I mean, I love paying respects there for our memorial for Jeremy Kane. And, always having his mother there is a treat because she is just such a wonderful lady.”

For her part, Melinda Kane was in turn happy with what she saw at Veterans Week on campus:

“Actually, I’ve seen a much more positive profile for those willing to serve and protect our nation. And that brings me great, great joy.