BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. —— There are more than 20 million military veterans in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These brave men and women fought to ensure freedom at home and abroad in ways great and small. For some, this came at a terrible personal cost.
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As such, they are honored on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, throughout America.
In Englewood, the home of many veterans, the tribute is very meaningful. It is sponsored by the Englewood Commemorative Council.
On Saturday morning, the City of Englewood Municipal Court on Van Brunt Street was the setting for this year’s memorial service, which was led by City Historian Olga Mosciaro, whose father was a veteran of World War I.
“We honor all those who were wounded, those who died, and those who came back. Anybody who wore the uniform in our country’s service, we can never, ever thank you enough,” Mosciaro said.
“If it weren’t for them, we would not be here,” she added.
Groups represented at the observance were the Englewood Police and Fire departments, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Army National Guard, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Girl Scouts, Englewood Elks, American Legion Henry Douglas Post 58, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Dozens of veterans turned out, and to help honor them was an abundance of guests from the political arena.
At 10:30 a.m., after an invocation by the Rev. Barry Miller, there was a presentation of military units and posting of the colors by the Englewood Police Department, directed by Sgt. Oscar Hernandez, an Iraq veteran.
Frank Lucianna, 94, veteran of World War II with four Bronze Stars and a Distinguished Service Medal, led a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
James Crosby of American Legion Post 58 performed the national anthem.
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The gathering took on a dramatic aura when Lucianna related memories of his wartime experiences fighting in Europe and paid tribute to his comrades, most of whom never made it home.
Reminiscing about the horrible toll the war wrought, Lucianna said, “I will never forget the young boys. They are singed into the annals of history. Most people will never know who they were. But, when I say the Pledge of Allegiance, I think of those wonderful young Americans who were 18 years old who died for our country. All the young men that I met during the war, even knowing the scars and the horror of war, said that they would have done it all again for America.”
Mosciaro thanked the military and public service groups that were present.
In a moving speech that many who heard it said resonated with them, Mayor Frank Huttle III recognized all the military and local service groups, the elected officials, and the families of veterans who had gathered.
He praised Mosciaro, who helped inaugurate Englewood’s Veterans Day celebration 30 years ago and has been leading the service every year since.
Huttle called for elected officials and residents to correct and improve the living conditions of veterans, from health care to housing.
Huttle ended his remarks by asking all the veterans present to stand, whereupon he thanked them and joined the audience in giving them a hearty round of applause. “God bless you, and God bless America,” he said.
The Englewood Fire Department led a moment of silence.
“Taps” and “Amazing Grace” were played by the Patriots Brass Ensemble as officials, residents, and visitors stood solemnly.
The atmosphere then became spirited, as the band played a medley of all the U.S. armed forces’ anthems.
Pastor James Damm of Englewood Baptist Church gave a stirring benediction.
The service ended on a lofty note, with the New York nonprofit Patriot Brass Ensemble performing Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Following the service, people were invited to stay for coffee, hot chocolate, cupcakes, and cookies as veterans and families shared their stories.
The motto of the Department of Veterans Affairs is “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”
It was taken from the final paragraph of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, which he delivered on March 4, 1865, as the nation braced for the final throes of the Civil War.
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