FREEHOLD – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon joined members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
That amendment guaranteed women the right to vote, and the county officials hosted a ceremony recognizing the women’s suffrage movement and its ties to Monmouth County.
During the event Monmouth County officials broke ground to mark the start of construction on a 19th Amendment Centennial commemorative garden outside the County Election Offices in Freehold.
Hanlon said during the ceremony that “the fight for women’s suffrage spanned over seven decades and it involved tens of thousands of courageous women who risked their lives, their freedom, and the alienation of their friends and family.”
She added, “Monmouth County was home to a number of prominent women activists and to events supporting the movement, including Asbury Park, Shrewsbury, and Ocean Grove.”
“The Centennial of the 19th Amendment comes at a pertinent time, as all the eyes of the world are currently on our country as we prepare to elect a new leader in this November’s Presidential General Election.
“As we celebrate the granting of women’s suffrage 100 years ago, we are reminded of how lucky we are as Americans to have the right to vote our representatives into office. Without the suffragists’ collective resolve and perseverance, women would not enjoy the liberties we do today,” she added.
The commemorative garden will be grown outside the County Election Offices at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold so that the thousands of voters who come to the building can witness, learn, and be inspired about this historic milestone.
The garden will consist of a circular area with paving stones, featuring large flags, plantings, a sitting area, and a commemorative plaque recognizing the Centennial of the 19th Amendment.
Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone said, “the freedom to vote is America’s most important political right outside of the original Bill of Rights, and it is also the most hard-won right. I commend County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon for her vision and leadership in bringing this commemorative garden to fruition.”
“Without question, this sanction guaranteeing women the right to vote altered history for the betterment of the United States and safeguarded democracy, symbolizing a monumental step taken towards forming a ‘more perfect union’ envisioned by our Founding Fathers,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said.
“By marking the start of construction on the anniversary of the day the 19th Amendment was certified, Monmouth County commits to ensuring the United States Constitution and its Amendments are upheld so all American citizens are able to pursue liberty and equality.”
This ceremony was a part of Hanlon’s year-long 19th Amendment Centennial Recognition Program. The program was designed to engage and educate county residents of all ages about the amendment and its historic significance.
For additional information about the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office 19th Amendment Centennial Recognition Program, visit MonmouthCountyVotes.com/Centennial.
