Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • October 5, 2011 Mahwah Blue Star families honored at council meeting by Frank J. McMahon At a ceremony held during a recent Mahwah Township Council meeting, Mahwah Memorial Post 7124 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented Blue Star Service Banners to a wife and eight mothers of nine men who are currently serving in the United States Military. The eight-inch by 16-inch banners indicate that a member of that family is serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Attending the ceremony were Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan and Robert Auth who represented Senator Gerald Cardinale, who was not able to attend the ceremony personally; Gary Montroy, commander of the VFW Post 7124; retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Mario Monaco; VFW member and former U.S. Marine Mike Devine; and Terry Wendrychowicz, representing the Mahwah Marine Moms and North Jersey Military Moms organizations, which collect and send packages of snacks, toiletries, and other items to those who are serving overseas. The Blue Star Banners were presented to the following mothers or their representatives: Jean Doyle, whose son Richard Ludwinski is now serving in the U.S. Navy; Barbara Blondin, whose son Joseph is in the U.S. Army Reserves and is now serving in Afghanistan; Gabriela Ferrero, whose son Keith is in the U.S. Army; Marilyn Melik, whose son Ryan is in the U.S. Army and has just returned from Afghanistan; Patty Gruber, whose son Matthew is in the U.S. Army National Guard; Susan Saglimbene, whose one son, Jason, is in the U.S. Navy and is now serving in Djabuta Africa and whose other son, Ron, is a U.S. Marine who just returned from Afghanistan; Gleny Rodriguez-Torres, whose husband Michael Phillip Torres is a U.S. Marine who is now serving his third tour in Afghanistan; and Karen Bolle, whose stepson Corey Bolle is in the U.S. Air Force. The women who received the banners hail from Allendale, Woodcliff Lake, Ramsey, Mahwah, Paterson, and Stony Point (New York). During the ceremony, Monaco presented Wendrychowicz with an American flag that has flown in Afghanistan and Devine read a proclamation from the Regimental Combat Team 8 in Afghanistan, which stated: “Let it be known that the accompanying American flag was flown in the face of the enemy on Camp Delaram II in the Nimruz Province of Afghanistan on 12 May 2011 in honor of the Mahwah Marine Moms.” Monaco said he has been working for a number of years with the Mahwah Marine Moms who do “a fantastic job.” He added, “They help us do our job overseas.” Monaco also presented U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and Corpsman Terence Coletta, who served two tours in Iraq, with a U.S. Marine blanket and a certificate of appreciation. He explained that he served for many years with Coletta, but was unable to attend his retirement ceremony and wanted to recognize him with this gift. Coletta is the husband of Township Clerk Kathrine Coletta. Commander Montroy then announced that his VFW Post is donating $1,000 to help continue the work of the Mahwah Marine Moms. The Mahwah Marine Moms and the North Jersey Military Moms have shipped care packages to over 230 service men and women and their units serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have shipped almost 2,000 boxes filled with pillows, batteries, books, cards, magazines, socks, blankets, T-shirts, hand and foot warmers, a dozen boxes of donated golf clubs, tees and hundreds of golf balls, along with over 3,500 of travel-size pillows made by students from the Needlecraft School in Midland Park. In addition, these groups have mailed thousands of cards and letters addressed to the troops from local school children, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and senior citizens; over 7,000 individual boxes of Girl Scout Cookies; and donated Halloween candy from area schools. The effort to support the troops began in early 2006 as a simple gathering of new Marine moms from Mahwah who got together to support their sons and each other. Wendrychowicz explained, however, that the group has since evolved into a determined organization of military moms, dads, friends, and relatives from northern New Jersey who mobilize entire communities to support this nation’s sons and daughters who have answered the call to serve the country. “No matter where the tour of duty takes them, when a name and address is forwarded to our group, we send them a little bit of home with a reminder that what they are doing is important to those on the home front,” Wendrychowicz said. The Mahwah Marine Moms are currently inviting the community to show support for the troops by purchasing and displaying hand painted “Patriotic Hearts.” Wendrychowicz said 88 hearts were sold at Mahwah Day. The Mahwah Elves, Neighbors Helping Neighbors group is seeking donations for a prize basket fundraiser to benefit residents affected by Hurricane Irene. The volunteer group is collecting new or gentlyused clothing, furniture, household items, and appliances. These items may be left at the Ramapo Reformed Church, 100 Island Road in Mahwah, on Oct. 20 from 5 to 7 ‘Elves’ aid hurricane victims p.m., Oct. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m., and Oct. 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. The group also welcomes donations of department store gift cards, which may be dropped off at Mahwah Bar and Grill at 2 Island Road. For more information, e-mail suzygodd@aol.com or call (201) 805-3583 (ELVE).