TOMS RIVER – The air was frigid and the wind was cutting, but that didn’t stop dozens of people from celebrating Veterans Day with the annual parade.
Even before it started, people lining up to watch were saying “thank you” to anyone who wore hats or jackets denoting their service.
Police and elected officials led the way. Various local veteran groups marched, bringing attention to POW-MIA, American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans, Tin Can Sailors, Destroyer Escort Sailors, US Submarine Veterans, and Purple Heart Wounded Veterans, among others.
A number of fire departments provided the “red” in the red, white, and blue. Classic cars – and even classic tractors – were driven in the parade. The Frontier Girls ran out to the sidelines, giving out small American flags.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department displayed the names of their members that are veterans. The Ocean County Historical Society brought to mind that there were local residents who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Local marching bands played patriotic songs. Some of them had JROTC members in uniform.
Joseph Placente, who is renowned for leading parades with his patriotic clothes and waving a large American flag, was riding in a military jeep.
The parade traveled the same route as the Halloween Parade just a few weeks before, ending at a county building where speeches were given. Some of those speeches were by local students who won essay contests about “What Veterans Day Means To Me.”
St. Joseph’s student Francis Lorenzo wrote about his brother James who joined the Navy.
“Before James left, he told me one thing that had stuck with me. He said, ‘I’m going to make this world better and safer for you.’ Knowing that he is willing to serve in the military, to be a part of keeping America safe, makes me sleep so much better at night. Some families are never going to be able to see their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers or sisters again because they gave the ultimate sacrifice to the greatest country in the world, the United States of America.”
St. Joseph’s student Victoria Errion wrote “In a world that can feel divided, Veterans Day brings people together. It’s a moment where politics, background or beliefs fade into the background, and we unite in a shared respect for those who served. Whether it’s through a moment of silence, attending a parade, or simply saying ‘thank you’ to a veteran, the ways we honor them matter.”
