Veterans gather to celebrate life, freedom and their fellow servicemen and women.
By: Elaine Worden
Standing on the leaf covered ground under wind blown American flags, veterans and their families stood silently in Veterans Park in Jamesburg as the American Legion Star Post 127 honored the 11th day of the 11th month.
Master of Ceremonies Hank "Spud" Dobenski, who is a Vietnam War-era veteran, began the ceremony by greeting his fellow veterans.
"We have a pretty decent day," said Mr. Dobenski said as a rush of cool air drifted through the park amidst guests bundled up in jackets and scarves. "Not too cold. Not as cold as last year."
After Mr. Dobenski’s introduction, the veterans turned to salute the flags as the Jamesburg Schools Band, along with director Shawn Healy, began playing the Star Spangled Banner. The Star Post’s Chaplin, Allan E. Brown followed with a short invocation, who asked that the guests bow their heads as he blessed the families of those who has sacrificed themselves for the good of a better world.
"I would like to thank the American Legion for helping us remember all the veterans, past and present," said Tony LaMantia, Mayor of Jamesburg, who welcomed and thanked the veterans.
Star Post 127 Auxillary President, Antoinette Intravartolo also thanked the veterans, as she gave the ceremony’s remarks.
"Today we are honoring those that died for us, and those that are living," she said.
The Legion welcomed many speakers to say thanks to the veterans and to remind others how important their sacrifices for this country were. Towards the end of the ceremony, the band played a rendition of "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America." With their right hands placed over their hearts, some of the guests began to sing the words to "God Bless America."
For their finale, the firing squad fired three shots into the air as Tom Sparacio, Exhalted Ruler of Jamesburg Elks 2180, played "Taps" on a trumpet. After the ceremony, the veterans, some of whom were wearing the same jackets they war during their years of service, wandered around the park, shaking hands and introducing themselves to one another. Parked alongside the street were two vintage World War II vehicles, a Jeep owned by Bob Horn and a 3/4 ton pickup truck owned by Don Ortiz.
Veterans August Manzo, a radar mechanic for the air force during WWII, William Conover, a sniper hunter during WWII, and Sal Colletti, who served 39 months in the European theater, stood chatting with each other.
Mr. Manzo, happy to celebrate the day with his fellow veterans.
"The best thing about today is that we’re still alive," said Mr. Manzo, smilling.
"At that particular time I was scared all the time," admitted Mr. Manzo, who described a plane crash he was in during the war. Mr. Manzo had been sitting in the back of a B-29 at the time.
"We were coming back and we got hit, our number one engine got hit," he said.
Mr. Conover spoke of all the suffering veterans who were and are in the hospital, who had been badly injured some who were missing legs or arms.
""We came back alive, and we’re lucky," said Mr. Colletti, who is also the Post Commander for American Legion 121, and had served as finance officer for 40 years and membership chairman for 30. "We’re in a time of war and we’re creating new veterans everyday," said Linda Greenstein, State Assemblywoman for the 14th Legislative District, who had been a guest speaker at the ceremony. "It’s important to take time out to do something to honor the veterans."
Ms. Greenstein, who deals with a lot of veterans and veterans’ issues through her work, became a little teary as she spoke of the veterans.
"They helped us maintain this wonderful lifestyle we have," she said.
Mayor LaMantia noted how Star Post 127 always does a wonderful job each year for their Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies.
"I look forward to it every year to honor the veterans," said mayor LaMantia.
After the veterans were given some time to chat and reminisce, they went over to the Jamesburg Elks Lodge across the street for refreshments.
Mr. Dobenski was on of the veterans inside eating a piece of cake.
When asked how he felt about the new veterans that are returning from the war in Iraq, he said, "Everyday I watch the news and I cringe. But I think it has to be done. And we’ve done it through the years."
&During his time in the service, Stan Hoffman, who served during World War II, was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
"I fought France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and met the russians at the Elbe River," he said. Mr. Hoffman, who was a subsitute teacher at Monroe High School for 12 years, also faught in the Battle of the Buldge.
"It was the coldest winter in 100 years," he said.
Sitting around in the lodge, chatting, there was an enormous sense of comaraderie among the veterans.
"Nobody likes war, but that’s why we’re here and we can do anything we want," said Mr. Dobenski.