Dear Editor:
As we continue on to our 104 Years of Service to our Community and our Veterans, on behalf of all members and officers of the Joyce-Herbert VFW Post 226, we thank Mayor James Davis, Superintendent John Neisz, Dennis Degnan, Ed.D., Dan Ward, Principal Richard Baccarella, veteran guest speaker Michael Embrich, Bayonne Board of Education, District Administration, schools, committee members, students, and our community for our 6th successful Field of Heroes honoring our veterans.
This year’s 2022 Honorees were: *Michael D. Chwan-US Air Force, *Stanley J. Kopcinski-US Marine Corps, *Patrick J. McNulty- US Army, Alfred Ponterdolph-US Navy, and Louis B. Rowan-US Navy. A monument stands in front of our beautiful Bayonne High School at 669 Avenue A, Bayonne, NJ.
2021 Honorees were: Harriet Zakutansky-US Army, Harold Spann-US Army, Joseph Kochanski-US Army, *Brendon J. Pierson-US Navy, and *Frank Andrisano, Jr.-US Marine Corps.
2019 Honorees were: Theodore Garelick-US Army, Barry D. Jones-US Army, *Neil J. Carroll-US Navy, and *Jon Christopher Jacobson-US Army.
2018 Honorees were: *Mayor James J. Donovan-US Army, Jack Graham-US Air Force, Former Mayor Richard Rutkowski-US Army, and Andrew Szyposzynski-US Army.
2017 Honorees were: John Baccarella-US Army, Alfred E. Bell-US Army, *Donald J. Cruden-US Marine Corps, Barry Dugan-US Marine Corps, Donald S. Miller-US Army, and *Frank D. Polera-US Marine Corps.
2016 Honorees were: John Nicaretta-US Army, Frank Perrucci-US Merchant Marines and US Army, Glen J. Flora-US Army, *Denis Miranda-US Navy, Victoria DelRegno, RN-US Air Force, and *Henry Sanchez-US Navy.
We thank our dignitaries: Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight, Assemblyman William Sampson, County Commissioner Kenneth Kopacz, Bayonne City Council President Gary LaPelusa, Councilmen Juan Perez, Loyad Booker, Neil Carroll, III, and Councilwoman Jacqueline Weimmer.
We thank our dedicated committee who made this year’s program just as exceptional as the first 2016 Field of Heroes founded by Dr. Patricia L. McGeehan and continued to this day by Superintendent John Niesz to honor all Veterans.
We thank our Bayonne Police Pipes and Drums, Bayonne Police Honor Guard, Bayonne Fire Honor Guard, McCabe’s Ambulance Honor Guard, Commander Barry Jones-VFW Post 7470 and Chairperson of our Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Committee, Harold Spann-3d Vice Commander-FA MacKenzie Post #165. John Zymlowski, Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Committee. Joseph Kochanski, Jackie George, Esquire, Tim Craig, Peter Hastings, Liz Fiadini, Robyn Santiago, Larry Sanji, Scout Troop 25, Bee’s Knees, BHS Bank, Rho Kappa, Boys Baseball Team, Mary Vodychoko, Bian Marafioti, Food Services, veterans, Brendan Wahlers, Laura Klinck, plus so many more supporting individuals and organizations.
A special thanks to all our Sponsors who made donations for the luncheon, Honoree Banners, Military Plaque brass nameplates, Honoree Awards, and American Flags: UNICO National Bayonne Chapter, BCB Community Bank, McCabe Ambulance Service, County Commissioner Kenneth Kopacz, Rock Coviello-The Chandalier, R. Kellner-Allstate Insurance Agency, Bayonne Education Foundation, Elbaum’s, and Pizza Masters.
We are truly grateful for the ongoing support of our community members who personally gave donations to honor their special veteran(s) and to support our Historical VFW Post 226 Veterans Museum. A special tour can be arranged by emailing: vfwpost226@yahoo.com. Our Veterans Museum is open to the public every Saturday from noon until 4 p.m.
Sincerely,
Commander Glen J. Flora
Sr Vice Commander Joe Kennedy
VFW Post 226
Bayonne
