On Monday-11-November Bogota held a number of ceremonies honouring the Women and Men who have served in the United States Armed Forces. In the morning The Bogota High School recognized those Veterans in Bogota. This was held in the front of the school, by the newly installed flag pole. The attendees were addressed by Bogota High School Principal Kelly DeCongelio. Principal DeCongelio talked about her own Father, who served as a Marine in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. She mentioned that the term Veteran is used to describe a people that had previously served on active duty. Principal DeCongelio changed that in order to remind everyone that those who no longer serve are still Soldiers. Using her Father as an example she talked about as the years passed, pieces of shrapnel embedded into a teenage boy from New York are now appearing through his skin. Principal DeCongelio also mentioned that her Father is now also fighting with symptoms of Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She wants to remember him as the man would served his country, while supporting the Soldier would is forced to again be involved in a battle well after he performed his duty to the Country.
At the end of the ceremony Thank-you cards were distributed to those Veterans in attendance. These cards were made by the Students of Bogota High School last week to thanked those who have served the United States as a member of the Armed services. More cards will be delivered to other Veterans in the area as well. This ceremony can be seen at the Bogota High School youtube channel at: BucNation Veterans Day 2019
In the evening the Bogota VFW Ralph Hall post #5561 held their annual Veteran’s Day program. The program began with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. This was followed by Post Commander Alexander Hernandez asking those veterans in the audience to stand and be recognized. He then asked they say which branch of the service that were apart of the their last duty posting. The different branches of the Armed Service were mentioned with many Veterans saying their last deployment was in Vietnam. Then Commander Hernandez saluted those Veterans for their service. He then explained the difference in the three days used to honour the Women and Men who have served the Country. One is Armed Forces Day, started in May 1950. This is to recognize Active Duty personnel currently serving in all branches. This occurs during the week before Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was first observed in May of 1868 soon after the American Civil War. First called Decoration Day, this is a day to remember those who have given their lives in defense of the United States. Also to remember Veterans who are now “Absent” from the previous year.
This day is Veterans Day to remember the end of World War I on 11-November-1918. Originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of the First World War. Now it is a time to thank those Veterans, still alive, for their past service to the Country.
Commander Hernandez ended by saying both Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day can be called Holidays, Memorial Day is a more solemn event to remember the sacrifices of past Soldiers.
Then Gabrielle Cintron, from Bogota High School, sang “America the Beautiful”. She was followed by Bogota Mayor Chris Kelemen giving his address. He first thanked all the Veterans in attendance, and those who also came to show their respected for those who had served. He mentioned that most all of the Veterans in the room were from conflicts from the last Century. Mayor Kelemen would hope that more recent Veterans will join the Bogota VFW and would like the resident of Bogota, and its Government to reach out to any Veteran who may wish to share time with others, or to offer any assist they may need.
Finally the Citizen of the Year was announced. Daniele Fede was named this years recipient for her work on environmental caused and improvement in Bogota, and other nearby Communities. She was also thanked for her Volunteer work in organizations that assist people who are in need of home improvement. Some of Ms.Fede’s work was a part of the refurbishing the Ralph Hall VFW post in which she was being honoured in.
There is one more Veterans Day event in Bogota. This will take place on Tuesday-12-November at 4:00p in the Bogota Public Library. They will hold a program recognizing the Women and Men who are veterans of the United State Armed Forces. This will feature a book reading by Margot Theis Raven honouring American Veterans. Attendees will also have the opportunity to create thank-you cards to be sent to Veterans. This is a free event, but anyone attending is asked to register with the library in advance. To register for this event, or for more information please about this and other Library events visit their website at : http://www.bogotapubliclibrary.org/
The Bogota Public library is located at 375 Larch Ave. Bogota, NJ.
(it is asked that while attending this event you inform them that you saw it on Bogota Blog NJ)
( To help support Bogota Blog NJ with its coverage of Local stories & sports
please contribute at: donate to Bogota Blog NJ )
High School Ceremony
 |
| photos courtesy of Pat Rochford |
VFW post 5561 Ceremony
( To help support Bogota Blog NJ with its coverage of Local stories & sports
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.