BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Junior Statesmen, which is a Bloomfield High School club for students interested in a career in politics, provided an after-school dinner for Bloomfield veterans on Monday, Nov. 13. The event was held in the teachers’ dining room at the school.
According to the club’s advisor, Keri Giannotti, the purpose of the meal is considerable because it is a show of appreciation by the school district to veterans. Superintendent of Schools Sal Goncalves and BHS Principal Chris Jennings were in attendance and spoke. About 20 people were there, including family members of veterans. Giannotti said it was the ninth consecutive year the club had hosted the event.
Joe Ellmer, a Korean War veteran and president of the Joint Memorial Day Committee, which organizes the Memorial and Veterans Day observances, also spoke. He spoke about the financial hardships his organization faces when trying to recognize local veterans.
He said he had contacted Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield with the hope of laying a wreath at the grave of each veteran. But when he was informed there were more than 7,000 veterans interred there, he knew he did not have the wherewithal to accomplish his goal or even lay a wreath at the rows where veterans are buried.
“We couldn’t raise that money,” he said. “That went down the drain.”
That the cemetery had so many interred veterans elicited an audible sound of surprise from some people.
Goncalves said the meal was a very important tradition for dearly loved men and women who are not recognized enough. He thanked the veterans on behalf of the school district.
Jennings said the most tangible evidence of the sacrifices made by veterans is the free public education system.
Among the veterans enjoying the hospitality of the Junior Statesmen was township resident Victor Salvadore who served with the Army military police.
Salvadore was on active duty during the Cuban missile crisis. This was an intense, international situation with public fears of nuclear war between two superpowers. It occurred when the United States learned that Soviet missiles had been deployed in Cuba only 90 miles away from mainland America.
Salvadore said he was stationed at Fort Dix when word came that his outfit would be flown to Florida for a possible invasion, by sea, of Cuba. But the situation was diffused politically and Salvadore remained at Fort Dix. Part of his outfit, he said, was later sent to Vietnam at the outset of that war.
Another veteran enjoying the meal was George Tonjes. He also served in the Army, from 1955 to 1963.
Tonjes said his first two years were on active duty followed by six years of active reserve. As a reservist, his artillery unit was activated for the Cuban missile crisis but it was deactivated, he said, “almost overnight.” Tonjes said he thought of remaining with the reserves.
“To be perfectly honest,” he said, “I was going to stay for 20 years. But with the Cuban missile crisis, my wife and a small family, I thought I should just stick with my family.”
About the Author
