Robert Kowalewski and Ralph Corno remember their bitter homecoming after serving in the Vietnam War.
“Vietnam vets never got no respect,” said Kowalewski, recalling some of the protests of the unpopular war. “They spit on us. They called us baby killers.”
Vietnam vets, he said, didn’t begin to receive the honor and respect accorded to veterans of World War II until recently.
“A lot of guys who came home returned with broken bodies,” Corno said. “To go through all that, and then not getting recognized, it hurt.”
“We loved it!” – Elaine Perez
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“I go to Lyons Hospital,” Corno said. “I see the veterans [of Iraq and Afghanistan]. I see the limbs that are lost, the post traumatic stress that they’re in.”
The first such event to be held in Secaucus in a decade, the parade attracted more than 1,000 people to the center of town to honor local veterans. Dozens of community organizations also participated, marching from Trolley Park (at the end of Paterson Plank Road) to the American Legion office on Centre Avenue. When the parade ended, the town held a block party on Second Street until 4 p.m.
‘We loved it’
Several marching bands – including the Port Authority Bagpipers, the Swamibapa Bagpipe Band, and the Secaucus High School Marching Band – played, as spectators cheered the floats, animals, and other attractions that made their way along the parade route. A number of classic cars were also showcased in the parade, a display that pleased many in the crowd.
“We loved it! We were very happy with it,” said resident Elaine Perez, a mother of two. “We hope they start doing this every year. I thought this was perfect. The kids enjoyed it. And it brought some patriotism back to our town.”
Another enthusiastic spectator, resident Jill Jensen, agreed.
“This was a great thing they did for the community,” Jensen said. “The only thing I would change is they should have the Little League walk in the parade. I think that would be great. But everything else was fantastic. It was great that they recognized the military [residents] in the town for everything they’ve done.”
Ain’t misbehavin’
Secaucus has not hosted a parade in many years, partly because of problems with public drinking and public drunkenness in the past.
Last week’s parade, however, was not marred by such behavior.
During the block party, the American Legion sold plastic beer mugs for $4 as part of a fundraiser. Adults over 21 could get free refills on beer until 4 p.m., when the tap was shut off. Several police officers, including Police Chief Dennis Corcoran, stood outside the Legion headquarters to discourage abuses.
“Nobody consumed too many beers. So that’s good,” Chief Corcoran said outside the Legion office shortly before the malt was discontinued. “Beer was served here two hours. That’s enough beer. At the same time, it’s not so much that people leave here drunk. And that’s the main thing.”
There were no reported problems related to alcohol after the block party ended, police officials said last week.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli, who announced in January that Secaucus would hold a Memorial Day parade, said the Legion raised about $2,000 at the event. The money goes towards scholarships for local students.
“It was a great day. There was a great feeling of community,” the mayor said. “Thousands of people came out to watch and participate. People got to meet their neighbors. We got to meet new people in town. It succeeded, without an incident. It was well-planned.”
On Tuesday, the Town Council recognized the work of parade organizers and co-chairs Paulette Halpin and her sister Michelle Halpin.
The town spent about $8,000 on the event, according to Gonnelli. The money was spent on various expenses, including the children’s entertainment, one of the featured bands (which charged $300), hotdogs, and water.
There will be another Memorial Day parade next year, Gonnelli said.
This renewed tradition made Ralph Corno smile.
“All of this is being done for us, for the vets,” he said. “It makes us really proud to see people come out to support us like this, it really does.”
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.