SEASIDE HEIGHTS – The tradition of observing Veterans Day is an important one for members of the Seaside American Legion Post 351 and this year was no exception. This year, their usual ceremony included a touching dedication to local serviceman Donald Skinner who died decades ago in Vietnam.
Former American Legion Post Commander Chuck Robbins once again served as master of ceremonies and spoke during the service along with Post Commander Bill Kevish, Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz, and several others.
Robbins noted the missing man’s table, present at all Legion Post events representing prisoners of war and those missing in action. “to those families whose loved ones are still undetermined, America must make every effort for the fullest possible accounting. This we owe to them and the missing.”
“Americans are still in harm’s way in many areas around the world, threatened by fanatic regimes that prey on the innocent and unsuspecting with causes that make no sense at all. When these men and women come home, we want to ensure that they get all the benefits that they have earned for they have paid an enormous price in their service to their country,” he added.
“We are here today to salute our past veterans and our present veterans. They sacrificed at younger ages and that sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed because we enjoy freedom today in our great country. We at Post 351 honor veterans not just today but every day because of their patriotism,” Mayor Vaz said.
He noted the young Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts present who had come up to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The walls of the legion headquarters were adorned with letters of thanks to veterans from students of the Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School that is located a block away on Bay Boulevard.
“I encourage our young people to not forget veterans. We had 9/11 in our land and many of us – myself included – never believed that could happen,” the mayor added. “We stuck together as a country to say this is not going to happen again!”
Nancy Robbins, the president of the Legion Post’s Auxiliary, thanked everyone for coming out to the ceremony. “It is a very important day for all our veterans and I want to thank our military for being there for us.” The Auxiliary provided lunch and other refreshments following the ceremony.
Kevish has served as leader of the post for a number of years. “I’d like to thank those here today who despite the risk, raised their hands to serve and defend this beautiful country. Our veterans, our active-duty service men, our guardsmen, our reserves. Your service has helped this country and its citizens safe and free.”
He introduced U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class David Awanmartins, the keynote speaker. He lives in the borough and is a Navy recruiter working at an office off Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.
Kevish said Awanmartins was originally from Hawaii and joined the Navy as a sonar technician serving on submarines in 2013. “He has served aboard the USS Connecticut, the USS Jimmy Carter, and he’s also served aboard the USS Sea Wolf. All were Sea Wolf class nuclear submarines. You have to be smart to serve aboard a nuclear sub.”
Awanmartins circumnavigated the globe 22 times. “Armed Forces Day is June 29 which is dedicated to individuals who are actively serving. Memorial Day is May 27 which is dedicated to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice of protecting our country but today is Veterans Day, November 11 which is an important day for obvious reasons. We have the ability to honor our veterans here in person.”
“We honor their sacrifices and their family’s sacrifices and thank them for ensuring that we are standing here today. Our veterans come from all walks of life, different generations, different branches and different wars,” he said.
Jerry Skinner, the Post’s financial officer, came forward with his wife Kathy, his brother Bill Skinner, Bill Molnar and Barbara Greger as Robbins presented a special honor.
The Post hung a plaque commemorating Donald Skinner on the wall of honor that would join others of special distinction. “The plaque will join a plaque already on the wall honoring George Pollin (also of Lavallette) who died when his Phantom jet was shot down on April 29, 1967.”
“Donald Alvah Skinner made the ultimate sacrifice on May 23, 1967, 25 days after his childhood friend George Pollin’s plane was shot down. It was unbelievable. Private First-Class U.S. Army second platoon C Company 4th Battalion 31st Infantry killed in action by hostile enemy forces in South Vietnam,” Robbins said.
Robbins also read a proclamation that was sent on behalf of Governor Phil Murphy in honor of Donald Skinner.
Jerry Skinner recalled the day he learned of his brother’s death. “I was 16 years old when Donny died. I was in Washington D.C. I was there on behalf of the New Jersey State Student Council and we were there petitioning for a national student council day. I got home late that day and I was there the next when the military came and told my mom.”
Reading some of the details of that day, Skinner noted that it had been a day of truce in Vietnam “Nobody was supposed to be fighting. An explosion near the platoon ripped through the night.” The village was under attack. Three other servicemen died in addition to his brother.
“It changed our lives,” Skinner said. “For me it was a long, long battle to get over it. Unfortunately, I turned to alcohol. God has relieved me of that. This Post has always been a love affair for my family. I thank the post for doing this. It is an honor on behalf of our family and it means a lot.”
