ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Nov. 15, dozens of people gathered at Soldier’s Monument in Englewood for the city’s annual Veterans Day tribute.
It was an event filled with pride and reflection as the city honored veterans, the brave men and women who have served in our military.
Across the world and here in the U.S., over 20 million Americans have fought to ensure our freedom, sometimes paying a terrible price.
Veterans Day honors the motto of the Department of Veterans Affairs: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle.” 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 itself for the final throes of the Civil War.
Today, over 150 years later, Lincoln’s words still reverberate throughout America, as communities such as Englewood celebrate our nation’s military heroes.
This year’s Veterans Day service in Englewood brought together people from all over Bergen County and beyond. On a brisk Monday morning, Mayor Michael Wildes joined numerous community leaders, veterans and residents at Soldiers Monument on Palisade Avenue.
Participants included the Englewood police and fire departments, Cmdr. Willie Patterson and members of American Legion Henry Douglas Post 58 and Bergen County American Legion Auxiliary President Joan Dickens and members of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Unit 58.
Helping to lead the service was longtime Englewood resident, octogenarian Olga Mosciaro, whose father was a World War I veteran and whom Mayor Wildes fondly refers to a “the REAL mayor of Englewood.”
Mosciaro organized Englewood’s Veterans Day celebration 33 years ago and she has been leading the city’s Veterans Day service every year since then.
The program began at 10:30 a.m. with an invocation by Pastor John Givens, a Vietnam veteran who is the pastor of Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Englewood. His voice rang out with great passion as he said, “We pray for the day when there shall be war no more; that there shall be peace with one another.”
The service proceeded with military units posting of the colors with the Englewood Police and Fire Departments directed by Police Sgt. Oscar Hernandez, an Iraq veteran.
The Patriot Brass Ensemble played military marching songs as the color guard marched into place.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Frank Lucianna, a World War II veteran and prisoner of war who fought in the U.S. Air Force in Italy and North Africa and was awarded four Bronze Stars and a Distinguished Service Medal.
The National Anthem was sung by Devry Pazant after which Mayor Wildes recognized the Englewood veterans and special guests who were present, including Councilman Charles Cobb, former Councilman Scott Reddin and Rotary Club of Englewood President-Elect Lisa Witsotsky.
As Wildes delivered his message, people stood in rapt attention.
“One-hundred-and-one years ago, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns of World War I fell silent. The Great War in Europe was over—the “war to end all wars” had finally ended.
“Unfortunately, the world and our nation have seen too many conflicts since,” Wildes continued. “Wars are still fought, and lives are still taken. Our sons and daughters have been called to serve again and again—in Europe, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq. War still seems the way of the world, to an extent much greater than we had hoped.
“But from every clash, whether America wins a decisive victory or exits carrying her wounded, whether she leaves early to save face or comes triumphantly home, one message always emerges loud and clear: her people are the greatest in the world. Conducting themselves at home and overseas with great pride and dignity of character, American soldiers represent all that we hope for in our children…”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Wildes signaled the moment of silence that was repeated throughout the county.
“Taps” and “Amazing Grace” were then played by the Patriots Brass Ensemble.
When Lucianna came to the microphone, he related memories of his World War II wartime experiences fighting in Europe and wistfully paid tribute to his comrades, most of whom never made it home. Reminiscing about the horrible toll that the war took, Lucianna said, “I did what every American was proud to do in 1941. That is, to serve my country with glory and honor.
“I’ll never forget the terrible calamity that I witnessed during my years of service,” Lucianna said. “I remember seeing the results of the Holocaust, of the horrible suffering of the young women who were imprisoned in Auschwitz, ostensibly sent there to avoid a boarding house. I’ll never forget the grief suffered by the parents who lost their daughters and sons. God bless them and never let them be forgotten!”
Following Lucianna’s remarks, the Patriot Brass Ensemble played a medley of songs of the US Armed Forces.
The last speaker was Rabbi Mordy Kuessous of Congregation Ahavath Torah who gave a moving benediction.
“Bless, guard and protect the men and women from our Englewood community that are in the armed forces of the United States of America and all the veterans that risked their lives defending our freedom and liberty and eradicating tyranny in service to our country, who fought to guarantee the dignity of all humanity,” said Kuessous. “Let us honor our veterans for their belief in our ideals and for having the courage to raise the banner of democracy in places where it hadn’t stood before.”
The service ended on a lofty note with a touching “Prayer for Our Veterans,” written by Jay Addison MacIntosh to be sung to the tune of “God Bless America,” as the music was played by Patriot Brass Ensemble.
Wildes closed the service by announcing that everyone was invited for refreshments at the American Legion Post 58 in Englewood, and pronouncing, “On this Veterans Day, and every day, may you truly enjoy the many blessings of the freedom secured for us by the sacrifices of America’s heroes,” he said.
