ERMA – Surrounded by vintage aircraft, Cape May County veterans were honored by county government officials Nov. 11 at Naval Air Station Wildwood.
The annual solemnity drew a crowd of several hundred veterans from wars that ranged from World War II to the present. Steeped in tradition, the ceremony included recruits from Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, and the base’s Commanding Officer Capt. Sarah “Kathy” Felger, who spoke about the recruits and their service to the nation when they graduate.
Joseph Orlando, commander of Veterans of Wars Post 5941, North Wildwood also spoke to his peers.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton noted that the veterans were the ones who helped protect the nation for the children and grandchildren, like those who made thank-you cards, like one he held up, for all veterans in attendance.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-2nd) addressed the gathering; he noted the sacrifice that veterans made, some who lost limbs, some who have post-traumatic stress syndrome, who commit suicide “every single day.”
“In the future, with every resolution we write, with every law that we make, everything that we do that we always remember those men and women and that we always understand the American exceptionalism, the uniqueness, the freedom, all that we have is due to them. May God bless them, and God bless America,” Van Drew said.
This year’s recipient of the Certificate of Service was Stanley Crowley, retired U.S. Navy Force Master Chief. Thornton and all other freeholders joined in the presentation to Crowley.
He has served at Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies for many years, assisting in placement of wreathes given by veterans’ organizations.
The invocation and Benediction were given by Johnnie Walker, adjutant, Disabled American Veterans, Department of New Jersey.
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