LONG BRANCH — A 1998 Long Branch High School graduate serving in the U.S. Navy was selected to participate in a special event that reunited service members stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, with their families for Thanksgiving.
Hospitalman Danildo Telleria of Long Branch was one of only 72 sailors and Marines chosen to participate in the reunion.
His brother Nicholas Crane was flown in from Toms River to spend the Thanksgiving Day holiday with Telleria.
“Coming from Camp Lejeune, I was in the infantry for almost five years, so it’s very difficult for me to see my family,” he said. “For my brother to come see me, who I haven’t seen in a long time, it was awesome. It was also great to see the camaraderie between the services.”
“Happy ThanksGathering,” produced by the U.S. Navy Mid-Atlantic Region Morale, Welfare and Recreation, in partnership with SC Johnson, reunited service members assigned to ships, squadrons and other Navy commands in Norfolk, with their loved ones, who were flown in to spend Thanksgiving together. Members of our armed forces are often unable to see their families during the holidays.
Throughout the two-day event, service members and their families enjoyed a variety of activities, including a Thanksgiving dinner, a tour of a Navy ship and a Thanksgiving Day football watch party.
The band Train also performed a private concert for the service members, their families and other Navy personnel stationed in Norfolk.
“I am so grateful for everything members of our armed forces and their families do each and every day to protect our country. They sacrifice a great deal, especially time away from their loved ones,” said Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, a maker of home cleaning products. “Reuniting these families for Thanksgiving is one small way that SC Johnson can say thank you.”
“Our service men and women work incredibly hard throughout the year, and many are unable to visit their families during the holidays,” added Capt. Doug Beaver, commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk. “SC Johnson’s support to unite these families for Thanksgiving is especially welcome and will make an incredible difference in the lives of these young men and women. This celebration will create memories for these families that will last a lifetime.”