A Revolutionary Remembrance: Honor General Enoch Poor in Hackensack This Memorial Day
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, While Memorial Day is often associated with the Civil War and 20th-century conflicts, Bergen County’s ties to military sacrifice stretch all the way back to the birth of our nation. This year, you can experience a profound piece of living history right in the heart of Hackensack.
On Monday, May 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) will host its annual Memorial Day service at the historic graveside of Revolutionary War Brigadier-General Enoch Poor.
For history buffs, local families, and patriots alike, this morning event offers a rare chance to pause and reflect on the very foundations of American freedom.
Event Details: What to Know Before You Go
The public is warmly invited to gather at one of Bergen County’s most sacred historic landmarks for a morning of solemn tribute and education.
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Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
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Time: 10:00 AM
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Location: First Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery (42 Court St, Hackensack, NJ)
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Hosted By: Bergen County Historical Society
The Program: The service will feature a poignant reading by Scott Barone beside General Poor’s sandstone memorial. Barone will read a curated selection from an essay by the late, revered local historian Kevin Wright. Following the service, attendees are invited to participate in a guided walk through the ancient cemetery grounds.
The Grandeur of a 1780 Military Funeral: In the Words of a Witness
Brigadier-General Enoch Poor was a vital leader in the Continental Army, earning the deep respect of George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. When he passed away in September 1780, his burial in Hackensack was a moment of immense national mourning.
James Thatcher, a skilled surgeon in the Continental Army, was there to witness the event on September 10, 1780. His vivid, haunting description of General Poor’s funeral perfectly captures the timeless weight of military sacrifice:
“No scene can exceed in grandeur and solemnity a military funeral. The weapons of war reversed and embellished with the badges of mourning, the slow and regular step of the procession, the mournful sound of the unbraced drum and deep-toned instruments, playing the melancholy dirge, the majestic mien and solemn march of the war-horse, all conspire to impress the mind with emotions which no language can describe, and which nothing but the reality can paint to the liveliest imagination.”
Why This Hackensack Site Matters to American History
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| GENERAL ENOCH POOR: QUICK HISTORY |
+-------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Rank | Brigadier-General, Continental |
| | Army |
+-------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Date of Burial | September 10, 1780 |
+-------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Location | 42 Court St, Hackensack, NJ |
+-------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Historic Significance | Attended by George Washington |
| | and Marquis de Lafayette |
+-------------------------------+---------------------------------+
The cemetery at 42 Court Street is a window into the past. General Poor’s funeral was so significant that General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette both walked in his funeral procession right through Hackensack. Lafayette would later return to visit the grave in 1824, reportedly weeping over the loss of his old friend.
By attending this service, you aren’t just observing a holiday—you are standing on the exact ground where the architects of American independence stood to honor their fallen.
Start Your Memorial Day with Meaning
Before the afternoon cookouts and family gatherings begin, dedicate an hour to true remembrance. Bring your family out to Court Street at 10:00 AM, hear the stirring words of our founders, and walk the hallowed grounds of Bergen County’s revolutionary past.
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- Tags: #MemorialDay2026 #HackensackNJ #RevolutionaryWar #AmericanHistory #BergenCounty #LocalEvents #LivingHistory
