PARSIPPANY — Parsippany’s American Legion Posts 249 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10184 held their annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11 (eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour) at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Presentation of the Colors by Color Guards of American Legion Post 249 and VFW Post 10184 followed by the Invocation by Rev. Babu Thelappilly from Saint Peter The Apostle Church.
The National Anthem and America the Beautiful was performed by Township Resident Michelle Musolino-Roberts. Mayor James Barberio took the podium to discuss “Why We Honor Our Veterans.”
“Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on what members of our armed forces have accomplished in the interest of freedom. And it gives us another opportunity to appreciate what they are now doing for freedom and world peace,” said Barberio. “Make no mistake, we owe them everything that is good in our lives today. To me, every veteran is a hero.”
Thank You Letters to Veterans were written and presented by Leanne Abrenica, Grade 7 and Isabella Toomey, Grade 7 from All Saints Academy. Parsippany Singers from Parsippany Hills High School Led by Kathleen Muka, performed “Almighty Father.”
Prayer of Remembrance by Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom.
Then Laying of the Wreaths by Bernard McElwee, Commander, VFW Post 10184 honored by Veterans: Joe Minsavage, American Legion Post 249 and Gary Erdmann, VFW Post 10184.
The Cannon Salute led by Al Florio, Commander, Lamb’s Artillery Company, Revolutionary Reenactment Group. Anthony Paterno, Parsippany Hills High School, Boy Scout Troop 173, performed the Taps.
God Bless The U.S.A. was performed by students Grades three to seven from All Saints Academy led by Allison Murphy, Music Director. The Benediction was led by Rev. Dr. Stacie Turk, First Baptist Community Church and the program was concluded by Bruce Michels, Commander, American Legion Post 249.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.
