By VASHTI HARRIS
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK – The Township of East Brunswick’s annual Veterans Day observance will thank and honor the men and women who served honorably in the military, in wartime or peacetime.
The event will be held by the township, East Brunswick Veterans Alliance, Jewish War Veterans (JWV) Post 311, American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 34, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 133 and the Vietnam Veterans Associations (VVA) at 6 p.m. on Nov. 11 outdoors in Veterans Park at the East Brunswick Municipal Complex, 1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will move indoors to the East Brunswick Senior Center.
The Master of Ceremonies will be Mayor Kevin T. McEvoy. Serving as this year’s guest speaker is John Meyers.
A lifelong East Brunswick resident, Meyers enlisted as an infantryman in the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from East Brunswick High School in 2006. In 2007, he deployed to Iraq with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment “Manchus,” according to information provided by the township. He was involved in fighting in both Diyala and Salah ad Din Provinces.
Meyers is a volunteer at the New Jersey State Veterans Memorial Home in Edison, a member of the Combat Infantryman’s Association and part of the VFW.
He is currently a student at Rutgers Law School in Newark, according an East Brunswick’s Park and Recreation official.
Also taking part in the program will be the East Brunswick Veterans Alliance. Paul Deutsch and Irwin Steinlight of the ViVA will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Wreath bearers will be Thomas Coohill, commander of VFW Post 133; Deutsch and Steinlight; John Chunco, commander of AMVETS Post 34; and Christine and William Koch, whose son, Army Cpl. Steven R. Koch of the 82nd Airborne, was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.
“I have participated in this event for 34 years on and off and I have been the commander of VFW Post 133 for four years. We are honoring our veterans. It’s a great community and a great event because everyone comes out to celebrate our veterans,” Coohill said.
Bagpiper John O’Keefe, Chaplain John Marmion and Rev. Jill Ellen Collict will also take part in this year’s program.
The East Brunswick Community Chorus will lead in song. Boy Scout Troops 132 and 223 and the East Brunswick Girl Scouts will assist with the program.
Any veterans or military personnel wishing to participate should contact Sandi Catarzi at 732-390-6797. The public is invited to attend.
For more information, call 732-390-6797 or visit www.eastbrunswick.org.