MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Gratitude abounded for the sacrifices of those who have served in the armed forces during Maplewood’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Maplewood Municipal Building on Nov. 11.
The event featured music from the Maplewood Concert Band, under the direction of Steve Kimmons, who is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as commander of the Eighth Air Force Band.
“We recognize their service, their sacrifice, their courage and their bravery,” Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca said as he called the ceremony to order.
The ceremony continued with the presenting and posting of the colors by the Maplewood VFW Post 10120 honor guard.
“You leave the war, but the war never leaves you, and that’s a fact,” said Frank Warzocha, commander of the Maplewood VFW, during his remarks at the event.
The event also featured singing from Maplewood resident Kari Capone; songs included the national anthem, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “America the Beautiful.”
After a rousing piece titled “Salute to Armed Forces” by the band, DeLuca gave audience members the opportunity to share their stories if either they or a loved one had served in the military. In addition to the several veterans present, family members of veterans were able to share stories in honor of others who had served.
The event also featured an invocation and a benediction from Rev. Durwin Johnson, a Maplewood resident and member of the Maplewood Clergy Alliance and the associate minister at First Baptist Church of Vauxhall.
“We remember all those who have come before us to whom we are in debt. May we be as true to them as they were to us,” he said. “We pray for those who still suffer from the physical, emotional and mental wounds of their service on our behalf.”
DeLuca also praised the efforts of the Maplewood Committee for Servicemen and Servicewomen and noted that the committee is renewing its efforts to add more names to its current roster of local service members.
“The committee has been reaching out for many years to Maplewood servicemen and women with gifts and other means of support,” the mayor said. “It is always looking to fill out its roster with names it might have missed — so if any of you know of someone from town who is a member of our armed services, just let us know about it here at Town Hall, and we’ll pass it on for the committee to process.”
The committee is one of the oldest volunteer groups in Maplewood, formed during World War II, when there were almost 4,000 residents serving in the armed forces. Except for a brief deactivation in the late 1950s, it has been operating ever since. Among its activities, the committee sends quarterly gift cards to local servicemen and servicewomen, marks birthdays, and sends local periodicals to those in service. The contact at Town Hall is township clerk Elizabeth J. Fritzen, who can be reached at 973-762-8120.
“Today we thank all of our veterans and may we never forget their sacrifice,” DeLuca said.
Photos by Shanee Frazier
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