AVM To Honor Centenary’s First Lady With Wreath & Tree of Life

By Cheryl Conway

Retired U.S. Army Col.

Jeanne Murphy of Hackettstown will be remembered and honored on Monday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m., following the 2023 Memorial Remembrance Day Ceremony at the AllVeterans Memorial in Budd Lake.

The late wife of Centenary University President Dr. Bruce Murphy, Jeanne Murphy was an advocate for Centenary University and veterans. The AVM has organized an Honorable Service Ceremony to recognize her years of service.

AVM Founder Charlie Wood Uhrmann will give the opening remarks at the Honorable Service Ceremony, which in the military is held when a warrior is Killed In Action. Its purpose is to acknowledge a person’s military service and to demonstrate gratitude to the fallen›s surviving family members so that they know their loved one›s service and sacrifice was not in vain.

“The intent is to help the grieving families and friends with the healing process,” says Uhrmann.

“We have selected U.S. Army Sergeant Luis Mattacastro of Hackettstown to deliver Col. Murphy’s accolades,” she adds. “We plan to lay a Memorial Wreath at the Prayer Garden bench that she and her husband Dr. Bruce Murphy sponsored and dedicate a Tree of Life in her memory and support.”

Dr. Bruce Murphy will lay the memorial wreath to honor his late wife who died on Sunday, Jan. 8, of injuries suffered as the victim of a hit-andrun accident a day earlier while on her morning walk near her home. She was 70. Murphy was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery on Wednesday, April 12.

The Murphys had been involved at the AVM in more recent years through sponsorship and as speakers.

When Jeanne Murphy took her first tour of the AVM, her “reaction was one of great respect and admiration,” says Uhrmann.

“Jeanne was a bit surprised that Centenary was not more involved but vowed to change that. From that moment on, Jeanne and Bruce participated in our Memorial Remembrance Day and our POW/MIA 24 Vigil. Last year Jeanne and Bruce sponsored a bench at the Reflection Sanctum; laid memorial wreaths and installed their own Honorable Service Pavers.

“Jeanne was our first combat female Keynote

Speaker at the 2022 Memorial Remembrance Day Ceremony,” adds Uhrmann. “Col. Murphy delivered a compelling speech regarding the historical role women played on the battle field. From that point forward, Col. Murphy offered to play an active role in the volunteerism and planning stages of the Memorial and POW/MIA events; attended the AVM Awards Ceremony; and began assisting in the planning stages of the 2023 Memorial Remembrance Day Ceremony.

“One of Jeanne’s goals was to cultivate a strong relationship between the AVM and Centenary and to reinstitute the Veterans SVO organization at the university,” she adds. How fitting that the Centenary University Alumni will dedicate the Tree of Life.

Since 100% of the AllVeterans Memorial is being funded by private donations continued on page 12