By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
Millstone Township Veteran’s Memorial Council Chairman Richard Brody wants to address young and old about growing concerns facing veterans in the United States.
Mr. Brody, who is also the state coordinator for Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. (VVnW), said that providing military support packages to troops overseas and supporting the United Veterans Beacon House, a transitional housing program for homeless veterans, are of primary concern.
There are approximately 275,000 homeless veterans the single largest male demographic of homeless people in the United States, he said.
With the help of the Veterans Coalition (VC), Mr. Brody and the VVnW are working to find homes for veterans.
”A number of volunteers from VVnW and VC are just now returning to our Pittston, Pa., headquarters office after finishing construction and renovation of a Beacon House in Promise, S.D., to serve veterans there,” Mr. Brody said. “It is the first such military veteran transitional housing to be built in the area of Native American Indian reservations.”
It is this type of motivation that Mr. Brody wants to instill in young Americans.
Mr. Brody attended the eighth annual Run for Vets at Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Jackson on Monday. The VVnW and VC, both nonprofit organizations, will be the principal beneficiaries of the estimated $4,000 raised from the event, according to Mr. Brody.
Eager to educate local students, Mr. Brody said he and other veterans, spoke to students prior to the run about the importance of Veterans Day in conjunction with the run. This isn’t Mr. Brody’s first attempt at informing today’s youth.
”I tried to institute a lesson plan in Millstone Middle School,” Mr. Brody said. “Unfortunately, my offer did not receive a response from the then 2004-2005 school principal.”
Mr. Brody isn’t the lone representative supporting the cause in Millstone.
The Millstone Elks Lodge 2613 is contributing to the same efforts, according to Mr. Brody. He said the lodge donated $350 to be used to sponsor 10 military support packages and $250 designated for the Run for Vets.
As for veterans from Millstone, the names of 10 additional servicemen will be engraved in the benches located at the Millstone Township Veterans Memorial and acknowledged on Nov.11, according to Mr. Brody. Representing the U.S. Army are Harry Gilbert, Harold Haviland, Paul Haviland and Alton Hileman.
De Jesus Felix Cristobal and Richard Hileman of the U.S. Marine Corps, along with Timothy Lee Weaver and David W. Williamson of the U.S. Air Force will also be added.
Edward A. Knight Jr. of the U.S. Coast Guard and Harold J. Cox of the U.S. Navy conclude the group.
Millstone’s annual Veterans Day ceremonial salute will take place Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at 470 Stage Coach Road. Scott Palmer and former Millstone Mayor Alan Boyce will perform taps on a bugle and trumpet following the ceremony.
Mercer County is also taking part in the remembrance. The county will host its Veterans Day ceremony at the Catholic War Veterans Post 417 at 301 Grand St. in Trenton on Sunday at noon. According to Mercer County Chief of Veteran Affairs Edward Mazzeo, the event will feature two guest speakers, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Frank Carlini and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes.
Mr. Hughes deemed the relationship between the county and veterans an important one.
”Veterans Day is a time for reflection and a time to express our deep gratitude to the veterans who have given so much of themselves in the name of democracy,” he said. “Mercer County works with veterans throughout the year to help them adjust to returning home and with accessing services, such as medical care or benefits. On Veterans Day, we pause to honor their sacrifices and courage.”
As a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Vietnam, Mr. Mazzeo knows about that honor.
”We want to bring awareness of what a veteran is and what they have accomplished for this country,” Mr. Mazzeo said. “Every day we look around us they are preserving our freedom and quality of life.”
