This was a special year for those paying tribute on Veterans Day. With the annual Nov. 11 event falling on a Saturday when city offices were closed, Veterans gathered for a Friday night ceremony at the Dorothy E. Harrington City Council Chambers on Nov. 10, then made their way out to the former Military Ocean Terminal on Saturday, Nov. 11, to unveil the new memorial to the Bayonne U.S. Marine Corps Company B, activated during the Korean War.
Veterans Day, which was once called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, serves an important role in Bayonne allowing members of the 12 veterans groups to gather and remember those who served and are serving in the armed forces.
The Friday night ceremony offered a presentation of flags and demonstration of support for those military people who have sacrificed previous time and sometimes their lives in service of their country.
Although begun as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, the meaning of the day changed at the conclusion of the Korean Conflict when towns began to use the day to honor all those that served their country. In 1954, then President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation designating Nov. 11 as Veterans Day, honoring all Veterans.
Although some communities still offer parades in honor of Veterans, many communities offer more solemn tribute in ceremonies like those in Bayonne, holding vigils for those fallen as well as those currently serving. Veterans’ group color guards gathered their flags or colors filling the chamber with red, white and blue as well as the flags symbolic of their units and their post.
Barry Dugan, of the Marine Corps League, spoke on the history and meaning of the day.
Memorial unveiled to Company B
In a remembrance of a particular moment in Bayonne’s rich military history, Veterans and others made their way out to the MOTBY (renamed the Peninsula At Bayonne Harbor) to pay tribute to Korean War veterans of “B” Company, 21st Marine Infantry Battalion and to remember the eight local residents who died in the conflict.
In a ceremony held along the waterfront greenway adjacent to the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority headquarters, veterans unveiled a monument to – according to Dugan – the “eight comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice in Korea.”
Dugan who serves government liaison for the veterans of “B” Company, 21st Marine Infantry Battalion, said: “This monument -which was erected on the base from which they left on September 7, 1950- will insure that their memory will forever be etched in our community’s landscape.”
The ceremony that started at 1 p.m. opened with the presentation of colors by the 6th Motor Transport Battalion of the US Marine Corps Reserve and The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Committee Joint Color Guard Captain Frank Perrucci.
“We stood side by side with the Marines color guard, Perrucci said. “It was a very moving moment knowing that we were honoring eight of our comrades who died fighting for the country.”
Sweet Harmony, a vocal group from Bayonne High School sang the George M. Cohen classic “You’re A Grand Old Flag” as well as other songs. Bayonne High School soloist Christina Sullivan sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Participants included Rev. Joseph Barbone, John Sinnicki, Frank Nilan, Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. and Barry Dugan.
To the accompaniment of a ringing bell, Daniel Sharkey and Joseph Scibetta read the names of the men killed in action. Christian Louro and Jonathan Hall, trumpeters from Bayonne High School played taps.
Louis Giovanni, of Bayonne Detachment of the Marine Corps League, and Martin Wilk of the New Jersey Chapter of the Chosin Few presented the wreathes. Final roll call for Baker Company was called by Richard Allen, Edward Hoth, Albert Petulla, and Robert Vetter.
“I am very pleased that we were able to set aside a prominent place on The Peninsula to honor these local heroes,” said Nancy A. Kist, executive director of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA). “It’s important to remember that as we continue to develop Bayonne’s future here at The Peninsula, we recall those whose sacrifices in the past made possible our present.”
“Bayonne has never forgotten the sacrifices of our servicemen and women,” Doria said. “So it is only fitting that as we work to transform the former Military Ocean Terminal, we pause to remember those who gave so much so that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today -and it is only fitting that a permanent memorial be placed at the site so that future generations will pause and remember those sacrifices as well.”