Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • June 12, 2013 Mahwah Township honors service members and families by Frank J. McMahon At a ceremony at the start of a recent Mahwah Council meeting, Mahwah Memorial Post 7124 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented Blue Star Service Banners to the families of seven Bergen County men who are serving in the United States Military Services, and honored two cadet members of the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer auxiliary unit of the U.S. Air Force. The banners indicate that a family member is serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Former U.S. Marine Mike Devine, the quartermaster of the VFW Post, announced each of the names of the men to be honored. Those in attendance included State Senator Gerry Cardinale; Jerry Rund, the secretary of the VFW Post; Ken DeFerrari, past commander of the post; and Terry Wendrychowicz, representing the Mahwah Marine Moms and North Jersey Military Moms organizations, which collect and send care packages to service men and women stationed overseas. The Blue Star Banners were presented to the families of TSGT Robert Diaz of the Air Force National Guard, who is now serving in Afghanistan; PFC Brian K. Doolittle of the United States Marine Corps; LCPL Stephen C. Harris of the United States Marine Corps; Staff Sgt. Timothy R. McGill, a Green Beret now serving in Afghanistan; PFC Alexander M. Protin of the United States Marine Corps; LCPL Sean C. Toolan, also of the United States Marine Corps; and LCPL Andrew VanWoudenberg of the United States Marine Corps, who recently returned from Afghanistan. Devine advised that the Blue Star Service Banner program was started after World War I to thank and acknowledge the sacrifices of the families of those serving in the military. The Civil Air Patrol Cadets, Richard Moletta and David Acompora, are members of the squadron that meets at the Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah. They were honored for their assistance in search and rescue missions and for helping the VFW Post honor deceased members of the military service who are buried in local cemeteries. Cardinale complimented the two young men for their service, saying it was “very reassuring to know they are there.” He said he was glad to see young people taking responsibility. The Mahwah Marine Moms and the North Jersey Military Moms have been shipping care packages to service men and women and their units in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2006. The packages contain pillows, batteries, books, cards, magazines, socks, blankets, T-shirts, hand/foot warmers, boxes of donated golf clubs, tees and hundreds of golf balls. The packages also include candy, snacks, Girl Scout cookies, travel-size pillows made by students from the Needlecraft School in Midland Park, and cards and letters from local students, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and senior citizens. Join Patricia Laprey on June 12 as she presents “Returning to College as an Adult: What You Need to Know.” This program will be held at the Mahwah Public Library at 7 p.m. Laprey will discuss how to navigate the wide variety of schools, programs, and degrees available and the options for completing a college degree as an adult. She will also cover the key questions prospective students should ask themselves and prospective schools. Laprey is currently director of the degree completion program at Ramapo College. This program is free, and seats will be available on a “first come” basis. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah. For more information, call (201) 529-READ. Laprey to present ‘Returning to College’