From left, state Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Municipal Council President David Lyons, at large Councilwoman October Hudley, former Camptown VFW Post 1941 Commander Cheryl Turner, West Ward Councilman Vern Cox and Mayor Tony Vauss place wreaths in Memorial Park on Springfield Avenue on Monday, Nov. 12, in honor of Veterans Day.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Irvington hosted its annual Veterans Day parade and wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial in Memorial Park on Springfield Avenue on Monday, Nov. 12, with support and cooperation from the Irvington School District, Public Safety Department and the Police and Fire divisions.
“As you can see, we’re having a celebration out here. It’s Veterans Day, music is playing here and it’s the 100th anniversary of World War I,” said Mayor Tony Vauss on Monday, Nov. 12. “A lot of people lost their lives. Some of the sacrifices are chronicled here in the township of Irvington. If you look at some of the monuments here, it has all of the information about those who sacrificed from the township of Irvington and we’re just here to honor them. Past veterans, those who lost their lives, those that survived, those that served in other wars throughout this country’s history, and we’re just so honored to be here and enjoy the freedoms that we have, because of folks like that. So it’s a great day in Irvington.”
“I’m a U.S. Navy veteran,” said West Ward Councilman Vern Cox on Monday, Nov. 12. “I feel honored and I feel honored to stand amongst the men and women who served and gave their all. For all those who served that are no longer with us, thank you for your service. And for those who are with us, thank you for your service.”
Cox is one of two U.S. Armed Forces veterans currently serving on the Municipal Council, the other being council President and North Ward Councilman David Lyons.
“We continue to serve our country,” said Cox. “Whether it’s on a local level, state or federal, we do what we have to do. We do our best as Americans.”
Nov. 11 was on a Sunday this year, meaning Veterans Day was observed nationally on Monday, Nov. 12. Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, who also serves as chairwoman of the state Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, was one of the visiting dignitaries who came out to celebrate Veterans Day in Irvington.
This year’s event featured the Irvington High School Marching Band, as well as the Irvington High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, which provided the official color guard and honor guard for the American flag, as they made their way from D. Bilal Beasley Plaza, up Springfield Avenue to the memorial shrines in Memorial Park. The Fire Division was also at the ceremony in Beasley Square and afterward during the meal that was served in Irvington Fire Division headquarters.
“On this day, we take time to appreciate and applaud these people for their service and sacrifices, which allow us to enjoy freedom,” said Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers on Monday, Nov. 12.
Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director Donald Malloy thanked everyone involved for their participation and ongoing support for veterans. He said this year’s Veterans Day observance was the result of a true total team effort.
“Thank you to everybody that came out this year. From the bottom of my heart, I really appreciate you and the township appreciates you,” said Malloy on Monday, Nov. 12. “Thank you so much to our mayor, Tony Vauss, for his undying support in everything that we do in the township and he’s so supportive of that. Our council people, again, ‘One team one dream.’ That’s the way we do it here in the township and we’re moving this town forward. Thank you, Craig Garner, our township poet laureate, for the wonderful poem that you did for us today. Our cameraman from TV 34 downstairs in our Media Department, thank you so much. Business administrator, thank you so much. Chief Gary, Director Bowers, thank you for everyone. All of our council people, thank you so much for coming today and we appreciate you.”
Former Camptown VFW Post 1941 Commander and current veterans housing advocate Cheryl Turner also thanked everyone involved with the township’s annual Veterans Day observance, parade and wreath-laying ceremony for coming out to support veterans again this year.
“I am the past state vice commander of the American Legion, the district commander of the VFW for Essex County, and the president and founder of New Hope Village for veterans and I am also a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force,” said Turner on Monday, Nov. 12. “It’s a good thing there were two days, because first of all, you try to cram everything into two days or just one day, it’s not going to work, because everybody under the sun is doing something, so we all can’t be at the same place at the same time. So having different days and everything else is a great thing. We started the ninth of November and, the way we’re going, we’ll end up the 17th of November, doing different kinds of ceremonies and everything else to honor vets.”
Turner agreed with Vauss that it was a great day in Irvington and she said she wouldn’t have spent her Veterans Day anywhere else.
“That’s because I live here,” said Turner. “I live here. I work here and it’s a great day. It’s a great honor.”
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