General Douglas MacArthur once said, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”
Yet as old soldiers, sailors, Marines and other service members filled the council chambers on Nov. 11 to mark this year’s Veterans’ Day, Bayonne seemed determined not to let them fade away either, insisting through this and other yearly rituals to keep the memory of those who served alive.
The ceremony for Veterans’ Day, which was once called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, brought together members from the dozen Bayonne veterans’ groups to pay tribute, not just to those soldiers who perished in America’s wars, but for all those who served or are still serving.
“We’re gathered here today as we are every Veterans’ Day, to make sure our soldiers are not slighted and that they are not forgotten.” – Dr. John Smith
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Rev. Joseph Barbone, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bayonne, gave the opening and closing prayer, and spoke about veterans for whom he serves as chaplain. Louis Giovanni also appeared as post chaplain for the Catholic War Vets.
The speakers included Mayor Mark Smith and his brother, Dr. John Smith, who is a member of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
While thanking veterans and residents for coming to the event, Barry Dugan, who served as master of ceremonies, said he was pleased by the turnout. Other officials included Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell; Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico; Council President Terrence Ruane; council members Joseph Hurley, Ray Grieves, Agnes Gillespie and Deborah Czerwienski; as well as former Mayor Richard Rutkowski; and former Council President Neil DeSena.
Present for the ceremonies this year, Dugan said, were veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and the Afghanistan conflicts. He raised concerns about veterans who make up the largest percentage of the homeless population in the nation.
“Currently, veterans make up 8 percent of the U.S. population, but they make up 20 percent of the nation’s homeless population,” he said. “They have given much in defense of our country, and for various reasons they wind up homeless.”
Mayor Smith paid tribute to all veterans
“This is a very somber day,” said Mayor Mark Smith. “We gather here today to commemorate what started out as Armistice Day… the end of the war to end all wars. As we know, wars have continued on. Since then, Armistice Day has evolved into Veterans’ Day, and we have the opportunity to pay tribute to men and women who have served this country so nobly for 235 years from all walks of life, providing people like me the opportunity to enjoy golden opportunities such as education and freedom of choice. People like myself owe a debt of gratitude to men and women like you who are gathered here.”
Continuing the patriotic tradition
Dr. John Smith received a standing ovation when introduced for his key note address. A local doctor and former police officer, John Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army as a reaction to the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
“He didn’t have to. There was no draft. [He is] a successful doctor who put his career on hold for part of his life to serve our country as part of the U.S. Army Medical Corps,” Dugan said.
He has already served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and is currently waiting redeployment, most likely to Afghanistan again.
“We’re gathered here today as we are every Veterans’ Day is to make sure our soldiers are not slighted and that they are not forgotten, and to remember the great dedication and sacrifices they made to make America what it is today: the shinning hope of the world and an exceptional experiment in freedom,” John Smith said, defining veterans as “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
He said that veterans pay a cost to serve their country.
“Veterans suffer great hardships, long separations from family, dramatic changes in life style, deprivation of creature comforts, potential of wounding both physical and emotional, and some the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives,” he said. “To them, this has been a calling for a purpose greater than themselves.”
Smith said that a country that is weak militarily tempts others into taking advantage, and quoting George Washington, Smith said, “To be prepared for war is the most effective way to preserve the peace.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.