HOBOKEN—Veteran’s Day 2014 was marked with remembrance, gratitude, and a renewed call for action to help newly minted veterans returning from America’s modern wars. At a Tuesday ceremony at Hoboken’s World War II memorial in Sinatra Park, members of the local American Legion Post 107 joined Mayor Dawn Zimmer in saluting those who have served and those who have fallen.
94-year-old Orlando Addeo, the oldest member of American Legion Post 107, led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Legion Chaplain Vincent Wassman gave a prayer for peace. Both are among Hoboken’s dwindling population of World War II veterans, which may now number as low as six.
“The public is starting to lose it,” said Wassman. “Thank God we have this ceremony to remind people.”
Zimmer thanked the veterans present for risking everything for their country. “It’s because of their sacrifices that our country is a beacon to the rest of the world,” said Zimmer, “and we owe a tremendous gratitude to our veterans.”
“Veterans deserve the service and support they need when they come home,” added Zimmer, “and of course it’s a shame that we allow our veterans to be homeless in our country, so I’m hopeful that the city of Hoboken, in partnership with the American Legion, can be a partner in solving this problem.”
Zimmer is one of 24 New Jersey mayors to sign onto the “Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness,” an initiative organized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that seeks to eradicate veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.
John Carey, the Commander of American Legion Post 107, echoed Zimmer’s call for a renewed focus on addressing the needs of veterans. “Only in World War II, the troops came home to open arms and flag-waving,” he said. “When our elected officials send our men and women off to war, they must be prepared to deal with the consequences of that war…There’ll be no volunteers in tomorrow’s Army if we don’t care of the needs of today’s army.”
Like Carey, Mark Villamar served in Vietnam. “When I returned, the attitude of the public was very hostile,” recalled Villamar after the ceremony. “Having to travel in uniform was a painful thing.” Villamar said he commiserates with the men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan now.
A number of current and former elected officials were in attendance, including Freeholder Anthony Romano, State Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia, Former State Senator Bernard Kenny, Council President Jennifer Giattino, and Council members Jim Doyle, Peter Cunningham and Theresa Castellano. Police Lieutenant Kenneth Ferrante, who will take over as Chief in December, was also on hand.