Speeches and memorabilia highlighted the Harvey Cedars Veterans Day tribute program held Friday, Nov. 7 at the High Point Firehouse. Approximately 140 people were in attendance.
The previous two events were held outdoors at Sunset Park, but this year, Mayor John Imperiale said they will now be held indoors at the firehouse due to the possibility that early November could bring chilly and windy weather. The decision paid off as there was scattered rain throughout the day.
But the indoor venue also allowed for the ceremony to have a new feature as an adjoining room housed a memorabilia display.
“I only wish we would remember to honor our veterans every day,” said Imperiale, who served as emcee. “These are our neighbors, our friends; they served America; they served for us. They sacrificed years of their lives to wear the uniform of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and the Coast Guard. They sacrificed for the cause of freedom. They sacrificed for our freedom. The Harvey Cedars veterans we honor today served during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and for decades after in locations around the world.
“For most of us here, our whole world is Harvey Cedars. But the reality is our country is bigger than Harvey Cedars. And to our veterans, let me say your service deserves more recognition and appreciation than can just be given by our town. But today our town, your town, wants to say thank you for your service. And we owe you more than a simple thank-you.”
Margaret Thomas Buchholz points to a ceremonial sword left by her great-uncle in the Civil War.
He added, “Being a veteran is not something you did; it is something you are. Something for you to be proud of and for guys to be grateful for. To the rest of us here today, it is our duty to ensure that our veterans always get the respect they earned.”
The ceremony included reading the names of all Harvey Cedars veterans.
Ocean County officials in attendance included County Administrator Mike Fiure; Commissioners Jennifer Bacchioni, Sam Ellenbogen, Ray Gormley and Robert Arace; and Vincent Camporeale, director of veterans services.
In his speech, Arace referred to a local landmark, the Cedar Bridge Tavern in Barnegat Township. He talked about how on Dec. 23, 1782, Loyalists and Patriots, led by Capt. John Bacon and Capt. Richard Shreve, respectively, faced off in the woods near the tavern. He said the battle is believed to be the last known land conflict of the Revolutionary War. Every December, the county stages a re-enactment of the skirmish at the historic site, which is under the auspices of the county parks department.
“These were not trained soldiers,” said Arace. “They were ordinary people who answered the call of duty. And that volunteer spirit still exists today as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.”
Another speaker, retired Air Force Lt. Gordon Martin, said that while people tend to focus on the heroes, “we should not overlook those who supported one another without any recognition.”
“In Afghanistan, there were times when people in the service helped us get out of dangerous situations,” said Martin. “It was like strangers helping other strangers. They didn’t know each other, but they knew that when the call came, they needed to come through and bring people to safety.”
Martin contributed a flight helmet and a flight jacket to the memorabilia display, which was coordinated by the borough activity committee.
“I have been on the activity committee since the beginning,” said borough historian and author Margaret Thomas Buchholz. “We were all active in gathering items from the veterans, planning the exhibition, and setting up and taking down. Each of us had about a dozen or so vets to interview. I was happy and proud to be able to exhibit family artifacts from both my great-uncle in the Civil War (Capt. Frederick W. Lewis) and my father (Reynold Thomas), who was a Marine in World War I.”
Barry Putt, who has been active with the committee with his wife, Judith, displayed photos of him at his Navy boot camp and his bunker in Vietnam, along with a medal for valor and a medal for Vietnam service during the Tet Offensive.
“I spoke at our first Veterans Day program (in 2024),” said Putt. “It’s great that the town is setting aside this day to honor veterans.”
Another committee member, Hillary Fiorella, displayed a mid-20th-century Japanese Rising Sun Flag (Kyokujitsu-ki) from her late father-in-law, Joseph Fiorella, an Army paratrooper. It features a red central disc with 16 red rays emanating across a white cloth field. It was signed by several Japanese soldiers and has Joseph Fiorella’s dates of service in the occupation of Japan from 1946 to 1947.
“This display created a great sense of community,” said Hillary Fiorella. “Many veterans and family members were able to connect with each other. It was very inspiring.”
