Memorial Day

“To be draped in the Stars and Stripes is to be graced by a nation’s eternal gratitude. … These are patriots, these are heroes. … So flags in for the courage. Flags in for the cause. Flags in for the freedom. Flags in for the fallen, who we salute on this #MemorialDay, and we will remember forever.”

• Tweet

Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act Will Improve Mental Healthcare for Veterans

By Congressman Chris Smith

As the former chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the author of more than a dozen laws to modernize, expand and improve the services provided by the Veterans Administration (VA), I see the need to review and evaluate existing programs to ensure that they align with the promise a grateful nation makes to those who wear and have worn the uniforms of the United States military. As President Lincoln so eloquently said at the end of the Civil War: “Let us strive…to care for him who shall have borne the battle…” a phrase later adopted as the motto of the VA.

That is why I co-sponsored and twice voted for the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act.”  This bipartisan legislation is named in honor of the late Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran whose story is not unfamiliar to many who have attempted to navigate the VA’s bureaucracy to receive the care they have earned. Clay Hunt was one of the many veterans who experience some form of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their service, yet he did not receive adequate mental health care in the VA system and took his own life at the age of 28.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth County Vet Presented with Bronze Star after 44 years

Congressman Chris Smith, Richard Walker Jr, Ocean Twp Ptlman Steven Walker and Ptlman Chris Stenger

Richard A. Walker, Jr of Neptune City earned a Bronze Star and other medals in Vietnam nearly 45 years ago, but never received them…until yesterday.

Congressman Chris Smith presented Walker with his honors, The Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal & Bronze Star Attachment; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and; the Sharpshooter Badge & Rifle Bar, yesterday in the congressman’s Freehold office. Walker’s son, Ocean Township Police Officer Steven Walker and his friend Officer Chris Stenger, an ex-Marine and combat veteran of Afghanistan were on hand for the ceremony.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

The sacrifice of the survivors

Veteran Don Manrodt of Highlands. Not Sal or Mike.

On this Veterans Day, two men who have made an impression on me are on my mind.

Sal was a WWII Vet.  His son Mike was my best friend in the 1970’s.  Sal was a blue collar guy who worked two jobs to provide a better life for his sons than he had.

One afternoon, Mike and I were heading upstairs in his house to get something from his room.  We had to be quiet Mike warned because his father was sleeping before heading off to his night job.  As we quietly walked past Sal’s room, a loud blood curdling scream emerged from the room.  I could hear the bed shaking. Then just as suddenly, quiet.

I was startled. Frightened really. Mike was embarrassed.  “Is he alright? Should we call the police?” I asked Mike. “Its OK,” Mike said, “he does that all the time. Please don’t tell anyone,” as if it was something to be ashamed of.

It had been 30 years since Sal returned from war. He hadn’t, perhaps, had a good nights sleep in those thirty years.  PTSD was not a thing yet.  But Sal’s suffering was real. He sucked it up and went to work twice a day to provide for his family.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Middletown Street Signs Honor Vets Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

A new program by the Middletown Veterans Affairs Committee will add deeper meaning and clarity to the remembrances of the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.

For years, many communities, including Middletown, have named streets after fallen heroes.  Now in Middletown there will be a commemorative sign under the official street signs that identifies the hero, their branch of service and the conflict in which they were sacrificed.

Wednesday afternoon in Port Monmouth, Congressman Chris Smith joined Mayor Stephanie Murray and Committeeman Tony Fiore joined Veterans Affairs Committee Members James Guerrieri, and Tom Garretson and William Bouw in honoring the life and heroism of Army Sgt Richard Belicose who died as the result of injuries sustained in Vietnam in May of 1967. Sgt Belicose’s brothers Ron and Robert were on hand for the ceremony.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Gold Star Mothers’ Day

I’m embarrassed that I did not know that the last Sunday in September is Gold Star Mothers’ Day, a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Thanks to our friend Edith T. Nowles who sent in the following remembrance of her parents, Zelma deGuerin Seaton & Lester Mason Thorne, who lost their son Cpl. Horace Marvin “Bud” Thorne in the WWII Battle of the Bulge:

“Gold Star” Mother & Father …. Zelma deGuerin Seaton & Lester Mason Thorne, New Monmouth, N. J..  Year after year, their heartache remains very much alive … compounded by childhood memories of family … the tremendously, painful loss is forever.  Vividly recall my mother’s personal escort, Mrs. Mildred Minor of Belford, N.J, always in appropriate, official VFW 2179 Auxiliary uniform, who transported and proudly escorted my mother, to and fro, for many years.  Seventy years since he was killed, my brother “Bud” still remains 26 years old … remembered – honored … dearly beloved … and deeply missed.  (Cpl. Horace Marvin (Bud) Thorne, U. S. Army, KIA 12/21/44, WWII Battle of the Bulge, Grufflingen, Belgium.  He never knew that he was a Recipient of The Congressional Medal of Honor).  

God Bless all the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters and spouses who have lost a loved one who was defending our freedom.

• Tweet

Play for a Patriot

By Ernesto Cullari

Once a day an active member of the military commits suicide. Before today is over 22 more Veterans: men and women, who have survived long deployments and possible combat, will die by suicide.

• Tweet

Lest We Forget

• Tweet

Beck’s veterans property tax benefits expansion gains traction in Senate

Beck’s veterans property tax benefits expansion gains traction in Senate (via NJ.com)

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Beck that would make veterans living in retirement and long-term care communities eligible for a state veterans property tax deduction and a tax exemption intended for disabled veterans cleared its Senate committee…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Middletown Military Shout Out

Middletown – The three Middletown Middle Schools, in conjunction with ‘Middletown 350‘, will be honoring World War II veterans at “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT”, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2014.  The theme of this multi-faceted event is to “Remember, Educate, and Entertain,” culminating in an authentic World War II U.S.O. Show performed by students from the Thorne, Bayshore, and Thompson Middle Schools.

Thorne Middle School, home of the WWII Battle of the Bulge Monument, will host the event.  Special guests will include survivors of that battle, and other World War II Veterans.  The school is named for Corporal Horace Thorne, Middletown’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.  The Medal was awarded posthumously for Corporal Thorne’s heroism during the Battle of the Bulge.  The “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” event is part of a series commemorating Middletown’s 350th Anniversary.

“MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” will feature three events, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge Monument in front of the school.  This Monument, previously housed at Fort Monmouth, was relocated to Thorne in May of 2011, with a re-dedication ceremony that included over 90 survivors of the Battle.  Next, attendees will be welcome to visit inside the school to see a “WALL OF HEROES” and showcases of World War II gear and uniforms.  There will be a special presentation by Mr. Frank McGinley, an artist who captures history through painting.  Several of Mr. McGinley’s original paintings depicting the Battle will be on display.  The program will conclude with the U.S.O. Show, which will take place outside, behind the school.

Veterans who wish to attend “MIDDLETOWN MILITARY SHOUT OUT” should contact the school at (732) 787-1220.  Families and the general public are welcome to attend any part of the program, and need not contact the school.  For the U.S.O. Show, seating will be available for veterans and their families.  Other attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating.  Thorne Middle School is located at 70 Murphy Road, in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.     For more information Middletown 350 and planned events, please visit http://www.middletownnj.org/content/middletown 350.

• Tweet