June 15, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 19 Ho-Ho-Kus Administrator is keynote speaker at local ceremony by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli was recently the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day event at Berkeley College’s main campus in Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson). Approximately 100 guests attended the ceremony, including Berkeley President Dr. Dario A. Cortes, Assistant Vice President of Military and Veterans Affairs Dr. Richard Robitaille, Berkeley College student/veteran Jeremiah Carnes, COO of Berkeley’s Newark campus/former Army Lieutenant Colonel Stan Holland, and a handful of uniformed military personnel. “Unfortunately, the true meaning and traditions of Memorial Day have diminished somewhat throughout the years,” Cirulli said in his address. “So let’s focus right now on its true meaning. We have freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, the right to a fair trial and the right to vote. All of those things and more are possible and remain possible because of the American men and women who have served their country in the military, and especially because of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thanksgiving Day is the day when we pause to give thanks for what we have. Memorial Day is the day when we pause to give thanks to the people who made it possible for us to have the things that we have. “This, I believe, is the true meaning of Memorial Day. “Memorial Day 2011 should be thought of as being particularly special because it coincides with the 150th Anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. And it is because of the civil War that Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, actually exists.” Cirulli traced the origins of the holiday, noting that, in 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War, General John A. Logan designated May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of those who died in defense of the country. Decoration Day, as it was known at that time, was renamed Memorial Day in 1967. Originally from Jersey City, Cirulli worked parttime as a professional musician to pay for his classes at the School of General Studies at Columbia University. He later became executive vice president of a specialty publishing company, and an international corporate executive. Cirulli served eight years in the Army National Guard, where he ultimately served as a platoon sergeant. He qualified on every weapon available at the time, from the .45-caliber pistol to the 105-mm howitzer. He served in the anti-aircraft artillery, the field artillery, and the armored infantry. Before joining the staff of the Borough of Ho-HoKus, Cirulli logged nine years as a member of the council in Paramus and spent five years as that borough’s administrator.