ERMA – For the first time, Cape May County veterans gathered in the historic Naval Air Station Wildwood hangar at the county airport to mark Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
It was a day to honor those veterans, living and dead, who served the nation.
The event started with Vincent Pale, 92, a World War II prisoner-of-war singing the national anthem. Over 300 in attendance stood as the Coast Guard Ceremonial Detail from Coast Guard Training Center Cape May held the colors.
Exhibits in the hangar, with photographs and memorabilia, honored the service of three county war heroes, William F.X. Band, Charles W. Sandman, and George Shoemaker.
Speakers included Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, who was later surprised when it was announced that the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery would be named in his honor; U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), Sherry Lee Govoni, commander, Cape May County American Legion, and Capt. Owen Gibbons, commanding officer, Coast Guard Training Center Cape May.
Vince Kane, director of the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, spoke of the desire to locate a 7,200-square-foot clinic in the Court House area to better serve the medical needs of the 8,000 veterans in the county.
County Clerk Rita Fulginiti spoke of the county’s history and noted the creation of the county 325 years ago.
Len Carsillo, the museum curator of NASW, cited the exhibits that honored the three heroes.
Renaming of the Veterans Cemetery was done by the freeholders for Thornton’s efforts to establish the cemetery June 15, 1979 in Crest Haven, as well as for his service in the Air Force and over 41 years as a county employee, freeholder and freeholder director.
The county honored Dr. Joseph Salvatore, who made the hangar available to the county for the ceremony.
In addition to the ceremony, there were a variety of veterans’ organizations distributing information, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
As the crowd departed, Capt. Gibbons mustered the ceremonial detail at one side of the hangar to make a special presentation to Seaman Justin Rozanski of New Baltimore, Mich.
Rozanski, a bugler with the center’s Ceremonial Detail, was honored by a letter from the Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Paul F. Zukunft for his service, playing “Taps” at 14 military funerals as well as over 35 ceremonies around the region. Rozanski, who will be an Aviation Electronic Technician, stood before the sailors with whom he had worked, standing in a semi-circle, as Gibbons read the commendation.
After the detail was dismissed, an even greater honor was bestowed on Rozanski when Cub Scout Justin Wolfe, of Pack 76, Sea Isle City, ran up to him and presented him a handmade thank-you card for his service, made of construction paper.
Wolfe is a grandson of the late Marvin Hume, a Navy veteran, who honored many veterans with sunset flag ceremonies at Sunset Beach in Lower Township.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
