PARK RIDGE, N.J.—Congratulations to the winners of the Park Ridge American Legion Auxiliary Unit 153 Americanism Essay Contest.
This year’s contest asked students how they can address and help prevent homelessness among veterans in their communities.
On Saturday, July 13 Matthew Pulis and Federica Zazzali from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Park Ridge, and Hanvit Lee of Memorial Elementary School in Montvale, took their school wins a step further, receiving essay awards at the annual Bergen County Convention of the American Legion Auxiliary.
The unit says teachers and administrators encouraged 448 students from grades 3–11 to participate by sharing their thoughts in an essay.
Local winners were selected in each division. The five top essays, submitted in January, were forwarded to the county contest.
Each student who participated received a certificate from chairpersons Dorothy Bozzone and Marcia Eisen at a school visit in May.
With their parents’ permission, here are excerpts from the county level essays:
Matthew Pulis, grade 5: Help in creative ways
Matthew writes, “One of the things that I find to be very sad is when I hear about a veteran that is homeless. Anyone who has given their time in service of other people deserves to be helped out when they need it.”
He adds, “Of all the things that we pay for in our country, it would be very nice if everyone gave a few extra dollars to help out those who have fought for our protection and freedom.”
He cites programs that help to fight homelessness then proposes “We all should do what we can,” touting the example of an organization in California that gives donated RVs to veterans.
“Sometimes successful people, like country star Tim McGraw, do what they can to help out. McGraw has been known to donate mortgage-free homes to veterans in need. There are good people out there helping out in creative ways,” Matthew says.
He further praises fundraisers, food pantries, and clothing closets, “where veterans can go to get what they need for free.”
Matthew is impressed by professional sports teams that honor veterans and donate part of a game’s ticket sales to help fight veteran homelessness.
Overall, he says, “It is sad that this problem even exists. The job of fighting for this country and our freedom is important and these men and women should never have to suffer.”
He adds, “The most important thing we could do is make sure that soldiers are paid well to begin with and are automatically offered jobs when they end their service.”
According to Matthew, “Veterans should be taken care of before even one politician is paid. They deserve that for their sacrifice.”
Hanvit Lee, grade 4: Help veterans like they’re family
Hanvit writes, “When I heard that people protecting our country sometimes end up homeless, I felt sad. Helping veterans is only a little way that we could repay them for our country’s safety and freedom.
“One way that we could help veterans is by having fundraisers, Schools are a great place to have fundraisers for veterans because we learn about how important our military is. The schools can have a bake sale with a donation box for clean clothing, imperishable food, and money.
“Art therapy such as community theater, painting, or creative writing can also help veterans with emotional trauma. I often talk to my parents when I have a problem and do not know what to do. Veterans can be partnered up with other veterans that are similar to them or share the same interests.
“The government can train veterans and give free housing for about one to two years while they learn skills for a job that they want. I cannot imagine how much harder my life would be if my parents could not provide me with food and a warm home.
“Above are some ways to help veterans get back on track to a civilian life. I run to my parents if I am scared, and they assure me that I am going to be okay. When veterans feel insecure because they do not have a job or housing, they should be able to get help from the government that they risked their lives for.”
Federica Zazzali, grade 8: Address the root causes of homelessness
Federica describes veteran homelessness in the United States as “a great yet understated crisis that deserves more attention.”
She says it can be caused by “dilemmas such as poverty and low social stature. Specifically, homeless veterans may suffer from other problems like alcohol and/or substance abuse, mental illness, and other co-occurring disorders leading to this lonely life.”
She says that “A lack of access to healthcare, low income, and shortage of affordable housing exacerbate the number of homeless veterans. These citizens often suffer from lingering effects of war like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the inadequacy of family and social support, which often leads to substance abuse.”
Federica says that although veterans make up approximately 11% of the homeless population, “that is still too many veteran lives at stake.”
She finds that “Like homelessness around the globe, there is no permanent solution for these vets. Although a remedy for their plight may be extremely difficult and tedious to find, we can still work as a community to attempt to lessen the percentage of homelessness in our country as a whole.”
She says “Veterans in particular need a lot more care than just statistics to correct their living situation. Many of them feel they don’t get enough communal or family support and this often leads to alcohol and/or drug abuse.”
Moreover, she says, veterans are susceptible to mental health issues stemming from service-related experiences.
“We as a community need to devote more attention to these concerns. We can promote vigilance that they are not alone in their worries, and we can help to elevate and support them.”
Federica lauds organizations that provide financial assistance to veterans, as such aid “might be a cornerstone to lessen their load.
“Stores and businesses can have special jobs for veterans who are unemployed, and facilities similar to assisted living can also be created for shelter and supportive care,” she adds.
Federica proposes “Fostering homeless vets in a loving home is a way to administer human touch and care, which we all need.” She allows that there are practical concerns to address with that idea.
Overall, she says, “These ideas would be a step forward in giving veterans the assistance, confidence, and support they deserve as recognition for those who fought to keep us free.”
The school winners, as Bozzone reported to Pascack Press:
Our Lady of Mercy Academy
- Div. I: Chris Mosca first place; Luisa Vogel honorable mention.
- Div. II: Matthew Pulis first place; Kate Dolan honorable mention.
- Div. III: Federica Zazzali first place; Luke Mosca honorable mention.
West Ridge Elementary School
- Div. I: Cali Caprio first place; Matthew Grant, Kasey Valentine, and Stephanie Vitale honorable mention.
- Div. II: Isabelle Zaslausky first place; Kathryn Bradler and Elena Thalmann, honorable mention.
East Brook Elementary School
- Div. I: Giana Capilli first place; Maggie Rauschenberger honorable mention.
- Div. II: Sophia Cochrane first place; Hailey Browne and Fiona Curran, honorable mention.
Memorial Elementary School
- Div. I: Hanvit Lee first place; Kaitlyn Gallagher honorable mention.
Park Ridge Middle School/High School
- Div. II: Jake Farrington first place; Medeleine DeMar honorable mention.
- Div. IV: Tyler Sum first place; Aidan Giambelluca honorable mention.
- Div. V: Jane Lim first place; Sarah Geormaneanu honorable mention.
Businesses donate
The Habit burger grill donated coupons to contestants. Those in grades 3–6 also received a coupon from either Dairy Queen or A Little Cake, Park Ridge.
All local winners were also given a blue or yellow ribbon along with their extra awards donated by local merchants.
Among those who donated gift cards were A&J Bagels, John’s Bagels, Dairy Queen of Montvale, Momma’s Kitchen, M&M Bagels, The Ridge Diner, Phil’s Pizza, Ridgemont Pizza and Yo Fresh Frozen Yogurt.
The unit thanks the educators and merchants who graciously contributed to the success of the annual contest.
Students who won at the county level were invited to attend the annual Bergen County American Legion Auxiliary annual convention July 13 in Elmwood Park, where the state winner was named.
County leads on veteran homelessness efforts
Work against homelessness remains a priority and a success story in Bergen County, which was certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2017 as the first community in the country to end chronic homelessness.
In 2016, Bergen County was recognized for becoming the first in the state to eliminate homelessness among veterans.
Pascack Press reached out to Ariel “A.J.” Luna, Bergen County’s director of Veteran Services, with the top essays for his reaction.
He said, “The Bergen County Division of Veterans Affairs commends our young people for discussing this very important topic. Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco III and the Board of Chosen Freeholders are especially pleased to see our students engaged in this issue since Bergen County government has successfully housed over 300 veterans into safe, permanent, and affordable housing since 2015.”
He added, “This would not have happened without the support of all our communities. We appreciate the kind of engagement and interest in this priority that our young people have shown.”
For more information on the unit or the contest, visit http://bcnjal.org/ladies-auxiliary. For information on the many veteran services Bergen County offers visit co.bergen.nj.us/division-of-veterans-services.
Disclosure: This reporter is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He adds his thanks to the essayists who spoke out—informatively, persuasively, and inspirationally—on this social issue.