Basilone Beer To Make New Jersey Debut In Honor Of Raritan War Hero

RARITAN, NJ — Raritan will be the first New Jersey stop for Basilone Beer, a premium American lager created in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone.

The beer will debut in the borough during the annual John Basilone Parade on Sept. 20, according to the Basilone Foundation.

The effort brings together the Basilone Memorial Foundation, Task Force Garrison and Battle Born Beer.

A portion of the proceeds from every sale of Basilone Beer will benefit the Basilone Memorial Foundation and Task Force Garrison, supporting work on behalf of veterans, military families and the communities that support them.

Basilone was a Raritan native who became a national hero for his actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II, where he received the Medal of Honor.

He later returned to combat, was killed in action at Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross.

Raritan continues to honor him through the annual John Basilone Parade and other efforts focused on preserving his legacy.

"My uncle’s story represents courage, humility, service and sacrifice, and those values remain just as important today as they were more than 80 years ago," said Kim Van Note, niece of John Basilone and Executive Director of the Basilone Memorial Foundation. "Bringing Basilone Beer to Raritan during the John Basilone Parade gives us another way to share his story with a new generation while supporting veterans and their families."

According to the Basilone Foundation, the relationship behind Project Basilone grew through Mike Marty, Chief Executive Officer of Task Force Garrison and a Marine veteran. Marty is also an investor and member of the Board of Directors of Battle Born Beer.

His involvement with both groups helped connect Battle Born Beer’s distribution and brand-building work with Task Force Garrison’s mission, leading to the partnership with the Basilone Memorial Foundation.

"Through Task Force Garrison, our focus is on serving veterans and their families, and through my involvement with Battle Born Beer I saw an opportunity to create something that could help support that mission in a lasting way," said Mike Marty, Chief Executive Officer of Task Force Garrison and a member of Battle Born Beer’s Board of Directors. "John Basilone’s life is an extraordinary example of service, courage and humility. Once the opportunity arose to work with the Basilone Memorial Foundation, the project made immediate sense."

Battle Born Beer said Basilone Beer is brewed with barley malt, noble hops, lager yeast and water from the Sierra, and has 4.6% alcohol by volume.

The company has secured New Jersey distribution through High Grade Beverage, and the beer will be available in the Raritan area with the Sept. 20 parade launch.

"This begins in John Basilone’s hometown, where his story has never been forgotten," Pickett said. "Our job now is to help carry that story farther."

For more information, visit taskforcegarrison.org/basilone-beer.

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