Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • November 24, 2010 Mahwah Township hosts annual Veterans Day service by Frank J. McMahon The Veterans Memorial Park on Franklin Turnpike at East Ramapo Avenue was filled with students from Betsy Ross Elementary School, Mahwah High School, and Ramsey’s Saint Paul Inter-parochial School and a large crowd of adults in observance of Veterans Day. Many local veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7124 were present and two veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Juan Mendez and Ryan Gomez, were especially honored for their service by Councilman Samuel Alderisio, who was the master of ceremonies. The event included the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the Mahwah High School Chamber Boys behind the Mahwah Police Honor Guard, and an invocation by VFW Post Chaplin John Kelly. Students from Saint Paul Inter-parochial School laid wreaths at the monument in the center of the park. Kelly, who is also the Bergen County VFW District Two commander, welcomed home the recent veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the veterans of all previous wars. He noted there are 26 million veterans in the United States. “It has been said that, without the American soldier, there would never have been a United States of America,” Kelly told the PROSPECT MEDICAL OFFICES, LLC INTERNAL MEDICINE AND RHEUMATOLOGY 301 Godwin Ave. • Midland Park, NJ 201-444-4526 We are pleased to announce that we now participate with AETNA as well as Horizon BC/BS, Cigna, Oxford, UHC, Healthnet and Medicare. (Evening and Saturday appointments available) John Kelly Rima Kopelman, MD Evan Leibowitz, MD Arik Zaider, MD Bennett Leifer, MD Lisa Hope, MD Karola Prinz, MD Mary Giorlando, MD Karen Hart, MD Donald Beauchamp, MD Annemarie Valinoti, MD crowd. “Without these citizen soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women or Coast Guardsmen and women, there would never have been a nation to found, a Union to save, or a world to help free from tyranny.” Kelly defined a veteran as one who, whether on active duty, retired, national guard or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United states of America for an amount up to and including their lives. “That is honor, and there are too many people in this country who no longer understand it,” Kelly said. “Thank you for taking the time to remember.” Addressing the crowd, Mahwah High School student Jamie Lichay said “hero” describes all veterans. She said, as we get older, we become more aware of the meaning of our flag and the bravery and courage in those red, white, and blue stitches, and the blood and passion represented by the lyrics of the national anthem. She emphasized that veterans should be thanked, not just for the times they were in battle, but for their commitment to our nation. “Thanking you is not enough; honoring you almost covers it,” she said, “but continual respect is the least we can do in return for your bravery.” Brendan Toomey, co-president of the Saint Paul Inter-parochial School Student Council, recognized that he been able to live freely in America because of the many men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting us and making our lives better. Noting that both his grandfathers served proudly in the United States Army, he said, “I believe it is very important to remember those who came before us and fought and served to preserve the American way of life. America offers the opportunity for everyone to be successful with hard work, and we owe our opportunities to those who risked their lives to protect our freedoms.” Alexandria Mesropyan, Toomey’s copresident, agreed that those who fought for our freedom should be recognized and praised. She noted that Veterans Day was originally known as “Armistice Day,” which was celebrated following the end of (continued on page 14) O P E N 11-24-10 janine Prospect Medical3x3(11-24-10) 3 x 3” Holiday Flooring �������������������������� H O U S E ���� ���� Register to win 1 of 3 Area Rugs ������� Flexible Financing �������� Refreshments Served Come & see what’s new for 2011 We are a locally owned family business. The dollars you spend with us stay in our community. 973-427-7900 • Hawthorne.BuyAbbey.com 1030 Goffle Road (at Rt. 208) Hawthorne, NJ 07506 Mon., Fri. 9-6 • Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9-8 • Sat. 9-5 �����������������������������������������������������������������