The names of six military veterans with ties to Lawrence Township, and who served in conflicts ranging from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, were added to the Veterans Honor Roll Saturday morning during the annu
By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The names of six military veterans with ties to Lawrence Township, and who served in conflicts ranging from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, were added to the Veterans Honor Roll Saturday morning during the annual Veterans Day ceremony.
And in what may become a new tradition, Presidential Memorial Certificates — signed by President Barack Obama — were presented to the families of six veterans who have recently died, at the event at American Legion Post 414.
Commander Andrew Tunnard (U.S. Navy Reserves, retired), welcomed the audience to the Veterans Day ceremony on behalf of Lawrence Township, American Legion Post 414, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3022, the 112th Field Artillery Association and the Lawrence Township Patriotic Committee.
”We pause this morning to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the men and women who chose to serve the nation in its armed forces,” Commander Tunnard said. “In essence, we take a little time to thank the military veterans who recognize that the freedoms we enjoy come with a price, and they have stepped forward to help pay that price.”
Every one of those veterans took an oath when they signed up in which they pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States “against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Commander Tunnard said. The United States Constitution is the way this country has chosen to govern itself, he said.
”We do not take an oath to a president or a congress,” he said. “We do not take an oath to a political party or candidate. Yet, that same Constitution mandates that the freely elected president is the commander-in-chief and that the elected Congress has the obligation to regulate and fund the military. The brilliance of the Constitution lies in the checks and balances to make it all function.”
While the Constitution may not always appear to work, it really does work — in part, because men and women have chosen to forgo many of their own freedoms for a time to live a life of service, sacrifice and discipline that is required to have an effective military, Commander Tunnard said.
”These concepts are deep and they are important,” he said. “We do not take them for granted through gatherings like this where we slow down for a moment and tip our hat to the military veteran who has done — or is doing — their part to help maintain our way of life.”
Councilman Michael Powers, standing in for Mayor Jim Kownacki, greeted the audience and encouraged them to visit the Veterans Honor Roll, which is located inside the north wing of the Municipal Building. The men whose names are listed on the plaques on the wall have served in every military conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wayne Rankin of the Sons of American Legion Post 414 said, “We are here to honor all veterans” — and not just the ones who fought in battle. Veterans are loyal, dedicated and truly brave, he said. They are “our celebrities,” he added.
”Let no one ever question what they are worth,” Mr. Rankin said.
Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Smith of the 112th Field Artillery Association reminded the audience that a veteran — whether active duty, retire, National Guard or Reserve — is someone who “at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount of ‘up to and including their life.’”
”As Gen. Hap Arnold noted, members — whether on land, sea or in the air — lived to bear our country’s arms (and) to save its honor. We pay homage and revere the memory of the many who sacrificed of themselves,” Lt. Col. Smith said.
”We were soldiers. We are soldiers. We will always be soldiers. Duty. Honor. Country. I salute all,” he said.
One of the country’s earliest veterans — Gen. George Washington, portrayed by Lawrence resident William Agress — paid a visit to the ceremony. He told the audience that he and the United States of America both have two birthdays. His two birthdays are attributable to the transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in the 18th century.
”I do believe we of these United States have two birthdays, as well. From the Pennsylvania Packet in September 1787, ‘The year 1776 is celebrated for a revolution in favor of liberty. The year 1787, it is expected will be celebrated with equal joy for a revolution in favor of government,’” Gen. Washington said.
Then, Gen. Washington read snippets from letters he had written to his brother while he was serving in the military during the French and Indian War in the 1750s. He also read a letter written to his wife, Martha Washington, explaining that he had no choice but to accept the command of the Continental Army that was thrust upon him by Congress.
Gen. Washington, in letters written to other military commanders, emphasized the need for discipline and the requirement that soldiers obey orders from a superior officer. Unless the orders are “followed by close attention to the performance of them, are of little avail. They are read by some, only heard of by others and inaccurately attended to by all,” he wrote.
Then, Samuel Alphin, commander of American Legion Post 414, presented the Presidential Memorial Certificates honoring Mark A. Cermele Jr.; John E. Clancy Jr.; Charles E. Connell Jr.; Phillip R. Gaskill; James J. Hewitt; and Robert Ingliss Jr.
Nicholas Loveless of American Legion Post 414 read off the names of the newest additions to the Veterans Honor Roll — Neal Amato; Augustus C. Brown Jr.; Charles B. Hector; Donald P. Kandrac; Russell Park; and Jonathan Radlinsky.
Mr. Park served in World War I in the Army and Mr. Brown served in World War II, also in the Army. Mr. Kandrac served in Vietnam in the Navy.
Mr. Amato, Mr. Hector and Mr. Radlinsky served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Amato served in the Marine Corps and Mr. Hector and Mr. Radlinsky served in the Army.