Veterans of the various armed forces at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Mays Landing.
Local towns will join the nation in marking Veterans Day on Monday.
Somers Point will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Patriots Park, First Street and Bethel Road.
Longport will have several engraved brick pavers that have been installed honoring the town’s veterans when American Legion Post 469 hosts its annual ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday. The event will be held at at Thomas B. Reed Park at the foot of the Longport bridge, 27th and Oberon avenues.
Atlantic County had some early celebrations, with Atlantic City holding its ceremony at the Saracini-O'Neill 9/11 Memorial.
Four-time Purple Heart recipient and Marine Corp veteran Marco Polo Smigliani was honored at the event.
Among his local contributions, he spearheaded the city’s D-Day memorial that honors Atlantic City native Bernie Friedenberg, an Army medic who earned six medals during his service that included saving five wounded men from a mine field June 6, 1944, on Omaha Beach.
“All of us who have served this country in many different ways throughout its history through our blood, sweat and tears, we have earned the privilege of holding our heads high, our chests swollen with pride,” Smigliani said during a ceremony last week in front of the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing.
The event hosted by Atlantic County Prosecutor Will Reynolds honored those in the court system who have served, while marking the programs available for who have had issues related to their service.
“There’s a debt of gratitude that cannot be paid by the citizens who have not served, and I am one of them,” Reynolds said.
"Their service is the reason we live in freedom today," said Chief Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor John Flammer, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. "Their continued service ensures we live in freedom tomorrow."
Flammer is the office’s designee for the Veterans Diversion Program, which offers rehabilitative alternatives to those who have served over prosecution in some criminal cases.
“I think it’s the best program in the state,” said Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury, a retired U.S. Navy captain who oversees the program.
Reynolds spoke of the success of a veteran who recently completed his program, erasing what originally were 13 felony charges.
“In a period of two years, he was engaged, had a child and appeared in court looking like a completely different person,” the prosecutor said.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Will Reynolds speaks outside the Criminal Courthouse.“It’s part of our mission here at the Prosecutor’s Office to help those veterans who need assistance, who come into contact in some way with law enforcement or the criminal justice system,” explained Chris Southard, a Marine lieutenant colonel. “We’re working to get them to a better place and set the conditions for them to have a better life and also improve that entire network for their families and friends so they can move forward.”
Southard heads the Veterans Response Team, who responds to calls for service involving fellow veterans in crisis while also training veteran municipal law enforcement officers to respond as needed.
The VRT, which was initiated last year, Veteran response helped dozens of veterans in crisis, Southard said, “from barricaded suicidal veterans to homeless veterans to those suffering from various addiction issues.”
“There’s no greater advocate for peace than those who are called upon to keep it, even at the cost of life and limb,” DeLury said.
He reminded those who thank veterans for their service to “keep in mind the cost of that service and keep in mind that some injuries sustained in service to our nation are not always visible.”
Honoring military families
The Military and Veteran Success Center of Stockton University commemorated Veterans Day with a weeklong celebration that included a Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony on Nov. 6.
The university’s Student Veteran Organization changed its name to recognize the contributions of the support system of those who serve.
The Military-Affiliated Students of Stockton, or MASS, stemmed from members reflecting on the importance of the support that they received from their families and close friends during their time serving.
“We changed the name for a small but very distinct reason: Behind every service member, there's a family that shares in their sacrifice; parents and spouses who worry, and children who miss their parents,” explained MASS President Michael Smalling, a junior at Stockton. “Every veteran has a reason for joining and raising their right hand to defend freedom, and you realize, only then, that you're not the only one serving.
“I stand here at the helm of this organization, proud to extend this invitation to all Stockton students who are simply military affiliated,” he continued. “You may not have served yourself, but you are no stranger to sacrifice. We're proud to welcome you into the Stockton MASS family.”
More than 400 students veterans and military-affiliated students are currently at the university.
The Faces of Stockton's Military Community photography series honors some of them, and was on display during Stockton's Veterans Week.
Susan Allen, who does relations and marketing for the university, wrote a bit about some of those who served and how it influenced their educational journey.
Jouseline Georges, who joined the Army and worked as a military police officer for nine years, came to Stockton to study social work. Having a dedicated space and staff to support veterans helped her "feel at ease and at peace."
Her military experiences inspired her to pursue a degree that will allow her to help children.
"While serving, I encountered numerous cases where children had to be removed from certain environments, and I didn’t know if they’d be OK or not,” she said. “Social work will equip me with the resources and ability to address complex social issues affecting children and our communities."
Every year, student veterans, dependents and spouses in the Stockton community are invited to a photoshoot. Participants are encouraged to wear apparel or bring props that help to tell their unique stories.
Georges posed with her military cap and dog tags.
When asked about the greatest lesson he learned during military training, Army veteran and Computer Science major Louis Muzyka responded, "How to persevere."
Kyle Miller, a Marine Corps veteran and Computer Information Systems major, said, "Discipline. When no one is there to guide you, hold yourself accountable to achieve the things you want and reach the goals you set."
Laurie Dutton, director of the Women's, Gender & Sexuality Center, brought photos of her grandfather, Sgt. Major B. F. Dutton. Paging through photo albums brought back memories.
She slid her grandfather's Marine Corps ring onto her finger as she held his photo and smiled.
