Widow Thanks NTPD with Plaque

A Penndel resident presented the Chief of Police with a plaque to thank the Northampton Township Police Department for their help honoring the memory of her late husband.

Marta Gross of Penndel presented Chief Barry Pilla with an inscribed crystal plaque at the . She wanted to thank the police department for their help honoring her husband, Clement Gross, who passed away on Feb. 13, 2012.

Clement Gross served in Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, and his wife explained that after years of living with diabetes, post traumatic stress disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and many other illnesses, he made it clear that he wanted a military funeral.

"He never, ever said what happened there," Gross said. "He never complained about it."

This is one of the reasons why Gross knew that she had to honor her husband's wishes to have a military funeral. She planned his funeral for a year.

Clement Gross was interred with full Military Honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery with a full escort from the funeral home to his final resting place by seven emergency service agencies throughout the area.

"What we got was phenominal," Gross said of the military participation. "It took us back tremendously."

Gross thanked all emergency services personnel who had helped honor her husband without even knowing him, admitting that she and her children were surprised by the turnout.

"There are a few good men, but there are so many other men and women that are good... that put there time and effort in to others," Gross said of the people who participated in the funeral.

Gross has spent time presenting all of the emergency service organizations that participated in the funeral crystal plaques, like the one she gave Chief Pilla. Pilla said that the remembrance plaque will be mounted in the "Hall of Honor" located in the Northampton Township Police Administration Building.