BARNEGAT – For many Vietnam veterans, returning home after the war meant facing a different kind of battle. The long-overdue recognition they deserved was often absent. In Barnegat, however, an annual Vietnam War Veterans Day celebration continues to ensure those same heroes get the welcome home they deserved back then.
It is usually held on March 29, but was changed to March 27 due to Good Friday closures at Barnegat High School. March 29 holds deep significance, marking the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973. It’s now recognized as National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a time to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served.
A symbol of pride waved outside the school – a flag that had fluttered over the US Capitol Building, provided by Congressman Andy Kim (D-3rd). Cadets from the Barnegat High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) greeted guests with dignity, underscoring the occasion’s solemnity.
At the heart of Barnegat’s Vietnam War Veterans Day was Thy Cavagnaro, a Vietnamese refugee who has called Barnegat home for over two decades. Thy, alongside her husband Jimmy, spearheaded the initiative “Thanking Vietnam Veterans in Barnegat” and erected a poignant memorial monument in Gazebo Park in 2018.
Previous Barnegat Vietnam War Veterans Days were held outside by the monument, but with the weather unpredictable, the event moved indoors to Barnegat High School last year. American Legion Post 232, VFW Post 1009, Barnegat School District, Barnegat Township, and Thy and Jimmy Cavagnaro all served as co-hosts.
“I not only have the privilege of standing before you not only as mayor,” said Mayor Joe Marte. “But as a proud Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War.”
Marte said it was an honor to thank and recognize Vietnam veterans for their courage and service and give them the hero’s welcome they deserved. He recalled the silence that greeted them when they first returned from the war – no marching bands, no ticker day parades – just silence.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition and respect, involved the active participation of youth groups and the community, emphasizing the importance of passing down these legacies to future generations.
Barnegat High School’s Navy Junior ROTC Color Guard led the presentation of colors, joined by three additional honor guards: the Association of Former Vietnamese Political Prisoners of New Jersey, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Seton Hall University ROTC Pirate Battalion.
“We always try to incorporate as much of our youth as possible in our events since they are our future and the key to traditions living on, especially when they are deeply impacted afterward by their participation,” said Thy. “However, when you see that impact get purposely spread further by them to their friends and peers, you know they sincerely feel this is important.”
The Marching Bengals delivered a stirring “Armed Forces Medley,” while vocal performances by the Russell O. Brackman Middle School “BrackTones” captivated attendees. Barnegat High senior Hannah Cronen’s rendition of “Taps” resonated deeply enough to bring tears to the eyes of many listeners.
Vincent Lorenzo, a sixth-grade student at Horbelt School and the grandson of a decorated Vietnam veteran, confidently led the pledge during the event. Concurrently, Jack Shive, a senior at Barnegat High School and an Eagle Scout, captured the essence of the occasion as the event’s official photographer.
This year’s keynote speaker was Barnegat High School junior Marqueisha Philippe, a drum major for the Marching Band and a staff writer for the school’s “ROAR” newsmagazine.
Marqueisha was just a freshman at Barnegat High School when she participated in the event in 2022 for the first time while in the marching band. Marqueisha was so moved by what she heard during the presentation that she wrote a long article about it for the school magazine.
“The appreciation for our vets today goes far beyond our quaint little town,” said Marqueisha. “It shows that gratitude can travel miles in between different cultures. It shows the strength of a good community…I realize that the true meaning of what a community is to support the people who need it and to make an impact on others.”
The high school junior thanked the vets present in the audience and those who sacrificed their lives. She said that if she hadn’t attended the program in 2022, she might still be naïve to the world.
Among the most moving parts of the afternoon event, were speeches made by two prisoners of war taken during the Vietnam War. Retired Air Force Captain David Drummond, a B-52 pilot shot down during a bombing raid in 1972, first spoke about his experiences as a POW in North Vietnam.
Drummond, who ejected from a B-52 with his crew and was later captured, endured harsh conditions at the “Hanoi Hilton” and another prison camp. He was eventually released on March 29, 1973.
As a veteran who served in Vietnam, Drummond said the experience left him with appreciation for the greatness of the United States. He also addressed the treatment veterans received when they came back home.
Reflecting on the impact of such treatment, Drummond emphasized the importance of unity and respect. “These additional wounds inflicted by our own citizens create a bond of great strength between Vietnam veterans,” he asserted. “It also convinced us that such treatment should never be allowed to happen again.”
Major Thuoc Nguyen, a counterintelligence expert who served for the entirety of the Vietnam War with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, shared his experiences next. Nguyen spent 21 years defending his country. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, he endured a decade of imprisonment as a POW, with six years spent in harsh conditions near the North Vietnamese border.
Nguyen expressed his gratitude to the Americans who fought alongside South Vietnam against the spread of communism.
“I also bow my head in memory of the 58,222 United States military men and women that lost their lives in the Vietnam War,” said Nguyen. “Including the 1,562 soldiers killed from New Jersey.”
Vincent Solomeno, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, surprised Thy during the event by presenting her with a proclamation from Governor Phil Murphy, recognizing her unwavering dedication. Thy, humbled by the unexpected honor, swiftly redirected the spotlight back to the veterans being celebrated.
The coordination of the event was a testament to meticulous planning involving various veteran groups, the Barnegat Police and Fire Departments, the Barnegat Rotary Club, and more. Attendees, including veterans, were treated to refreshments and had access to support services, underscoring the event’s commitment to their well-being.
Among the hundreds of attendees at the event were veterans and their families, as well as all three members of the Ninth Legislative District, Senator Carmen Amato, and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Gregory Myhre.
