(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough of Fanwood held its annual Veterans Day ceremony on a sunny yet gusty Monday in front of the Fanwood Memorial Library on Forest Road. A small crowd gathered along with members of the Fanwood Fire Department and Fanwood Police Department. Long-time World War II Army veteran Joe Schott also attended with his daughter Mary and several other veterans.
The event was sponsored by the American Legion Post 209 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10122. Army veteran Joe McCourt hosted the event.
Dennis Mayer of American Legion Post 209 said the love of our country is “the common thread that binds all of our veterans to those serving today.” He said it is up to family, friends and the neighbors of veterans to ensure that the service of every veteran is respected by their fellow Americans by thanking veterans for their service our country.
Mayor Colleen Mahr said the community owes our veterans “a great debt for everything you have done for us.” “You (veterans) have enriched our lives, you have served out Nation, and you have sacrificed. So thank you.”
“We are here today to celebrate the strength, the courage, the dedication of our veterans who shaped the world from lasting peace. And we will never forget those who died service to our country, and the POWs and the MIAs that are yet to be accounted for,” she said.
McCourt, recalling his own military service, said “we (his fellow service members) all enjoyed being an important part of something larger than ourselves.” He said veterans look back on their service days with both pride and sadness.
He closed by saying all veterans “understand that freedom is not free.”
“We (veterans’ groups) will never cease to sing the praises of America’s veterans and the wonderful nation we call home,” McCourt said.
Memorial Wreaths were presented by Frank Chupko, senior vice commander of VFW Post 10122, and by Kevin Burns, past commander of American Legion Post 209.
The ceremony closed with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
