Veterans and family members gathered at the town’s Recreation Center to observe Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11.
Longtime resident Bill Koehler served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He was part of the artillery unit during one of the largest military campaign of the Vietnam War, called the Tet Offensive. Now, out of his eight children, one of his sons is a captain in the Marines. After working at a machine company in North Bergen, he is now retired.
Resident and 12-year veteran Robert Garcia said he came to enjoy Veterans Day with his daughter Layla, 6, and his girlfriend Christine.
“No matter who we voted for, the country goes on.” – Mayor Nicholas Sacco
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Before Mayor Nicholas Sacco gave his speech, he said, “We have the greatest democracy in the world because of the people in this room who sacrificed so much for us.” Sacco also said he noticed the age diversity. “I see some people who are still here, some were lost, and a lot of younger ones. It’s healthy for them to take part.”
“This Recreation Center was built by veterans in 1918,” Freeholder Anthony Vainieri said. “We’ll be celebrating 100 years soon, and all the veterans deserve this day. We want to celebrate and honor veterans every year.”
During his speech, Sacco said, “After the presidential election, no matter who we voted for, the country goes on. The next day is here, and we’re all here. Our country is safe and secure because veterans went overseas.”
Leonia resident Richard Alicchio served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. “Fifty years ago my daughter was born while I served there,” Alicchio said. Alicchio also said he was stationed at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, near when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
Vainieri said, “Because of men like you, I didn’t have to serve in a World War III.”