On Wednesday, May 24, Hoboken residents honored current and departed war veterans at the 119th Annual Memorial Day Parade, the longest running parade in the state.
Commander of American Legion Post 107 John Carey said he starts planning the parade in January by booking participants, as many municipalities have parades for Memorial Day.
This year participants included Junior ROTC members from Dickinson High School, McNair Academic High School, and Lincoln High School in Jersey City as well as bands from Union City High School, Hawthorne High School, Memorial High School, bag pipes from the Port Authority, and the Hoboken Rockin’ Redwings marching band from Hoboken High School.
The Rockin’ Redwings will also perform in Washington D.C. this weekend for the nation’s Memorial Day parade celebration.
Hoboken’s Memorial Day parade began at City Hall and marched along Washington Street to Tenth and Washington streets, stopping outside the Elks Lodge.
According to Carey, who served in Vietnam, the parade is a day of remembrance.
“It’s a time to remember the sacrifices people make for this country,” said Carey. “Unfortunately so many people don’t remember them. Maybe it’s complacency but so many people have already forgotten. They’ve forgotten 9/11. It’s a shame. I really thought 9/11 would be this generation’s Pearl Harbor.”
First non-veteran grand marshal
This year’s grand marshal was Hoboken businessman and former resident Joe Mindak.
Mindak is the first man to serve as grand marshal who has not served for the United States Military, although it’s not for a lack of trying. He said he wasn’t accepted when he applied for the Army after college. But he has contributed to local veterans and many charities.
Carey said Mindak was the ideal choice.
“Joe has been very instrumental in rebuilding our post after Sandy and instrumental continuing to support the post with our goal of rebuilding and providing housing for six homeless veterans,” said Carey.
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“It is such an honor and very humbling to be grand marshal this year.” –Joe Mindak
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Mindak was surprised to learn he would be the first non-veteran to be grand marshal of the parade.
“I didn’t realize there was never a non-veteran to do it,” he said. “It is such an honor and very humbling to be grand marshal this year. I think it really goes to show these guys are very thankful that someone is stepping up to help them, through the Rotary.”
Mindak has helped raise money for Hoboken’s American Legion Post 107 over the years through his work as a member of the Hoboken Rotary, and part of the Hoboken business community.
American Legion Post 107 is currently raising funds to rebuild their post at 308 Second St.
Their new building will contain five floors and 11,000 square feet of space, and will provide housing for six homeless veterans.
The top three floors of the new building will each have a studio unit and a one-bedroom unit with shared laundry facilities on each floor.
The second floor will consist of meeting space for the post’s members and the first floor, which is in a flood zone, will have mailboxes, a vestibule, and elevator access.
“There are 12 homeless veterans on record in Hudson County,” said Mindak. “So when the construction is done American Legion Post 107 will be able to house half of them.”
According to Mindak the post still needs to raise about a million dollars for the project.
Mindak, owner of marketing company Finn Connective and Hoboken Ale, said he is honored to be an honorary member of American Legion Post 107 and share the parade with his 12-year-old son Phineas.
Mindak said his wife; Audrey and their 10-year-old daughter Campbell were unable to attend as Cambell had a Cheer Dynamics event at the same time.
“My wife’s the reason I’m able to do all of this and be so involved,” said Mindak. “She helps balance it all.”
Local veteran honored
Veteran Nicholas De Trizio said he attends the parade almost every year.
“I remember once when I’ve been in these parades and I was drenched,” said De Trizio. “By the time we got to the Elks Club I was soaked to the skin with water. I had to ring my jacket out.”
De Trizio said this year’s Memorial Day celebrations were particularly special for him as he was honored by Mayor Dawn Zimmer to be selected as Veteran of the Year.
De Trizio said he served in the United States Navy from 1955 until the beginning of the Vietnam War.
During his time in the Navy he was a plane captain, or flight engineer off the Atlantic Coast as part of the anti submarine flight crew, looking for Russian Submarines.
“I was elated,” said De Trizio when he found out about the honor three weeks ago. “I was very surprised. I can think of many people that should probably get it before me. There are people that were in combat situations.”
De Trizio was to be honored at a county celebration the following day along with mayoral selections from other Hudson county towns.
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.
