Sussex Elks honors Vernon resident John Harrigan

WANTAGE — The Sussex Elks Lodge #2288 awarded Vernon resident John Harrigan with the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award at a special Sunday evening dinner in Harrigan’s honor and thereby declaring him the Elks’ Citizen of the Year.
About 75 people attended the dinner.
According to Sussex Elks Exalted Ruler Patty Green, “As I started to write this speech I thought how easy it would be to speak about John. Then I realized it wasn’t that easy.”
Green continued saying, “John and his fellow Vietnam Veterans unselfishly spent many days and hours achieving this goal. From locating property and purchasing it for $1 and then to go on to obtain many professionals, from attorney, to architects as well as many local business to work with him at minimum or no cost at all.”
When asked why they selected Harrigan, member Carol Lee Spages said, “The Elks chose John because there is an Elk pledge that ‘As long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.’ John has gone to the extreme to never forget them because the cemetery he helped to bring to fruition will allow us to remember them into perpetuity.”
— Photos by Chris Wyman