Hardyston honors veterans at ceremony

HARDYSTON — Hardyston Township honored its veterans at a ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Hardyston Municipal Building.

Master of Ceremonies Marty Schweighhardt talked about the veterans who gave all so that future generations can continue know freedom. He stated “we must also carry their love, honor and duty forward to future generations that will pass. The ceremony was dedicated to honor those who served to preserve our freedom who are and were residents of Hardyston. The Ceremony was also a ceremony to honor all Veterans throughout the country.

The ceremony began with prayer initiated by Reverend Ernest Kosa, Retired U.S. Army Chaplain. The Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 82 marched in the Flag Ceremony (presentation of colors) and accompanied all attendees to salute the flag while saying “Pledge of Allegiance.”

The Wallkill Valley High School Band performed the “Star Spangled Banner."

Attendees at the Veterans’ Day Memorial Ceremony were

Ret. U.S. Marine Corps. Colonel Daniel Colfax, the public defender in Hardyston, was the guest speaker. Mayor Carl Miller said Colfax was commissioned as a Second Lietenant in the U.S. Marine Corp. and assigned to the U.S.S. Intrepid and was promoted to First Lieutenant and then Captain. He served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Miller also said Colfax was promoted to Major in 2002 and prepared a unit for potential deployment and participation in wartime planning for the sixth motor transport battalion. In 2003, Major Colfax's unit was designated by presidential recall for active duty. He was deployed to Kuwait and from there, his unit moved further into Iraq and all 276 marines in his unit returned home.

Colonel Colfax thanked the Veterans, their families and all the dignitaries that attended to be a part of the Veterans’ Day Memorial Ceremony. Colfax served for 20 years in the Marine Corps. He explained

“Whether or not someone is a combat Veteran or not, if you served in the military you are a veteran and that is very, very, important and that is something we need to pass on to our children,” he said. “We need to take what we’ve learned as veterans’ and bring it to the younger generation.”

He also spoke of the need to make the next generaiton to understand the U.S. is a special place. He believes this is important because there are not many people joining the military.

“We are facing a great darkness” that is approaching America, and future generations need to be prepared.

“We live in a time where giants must step forward," Colfax said. "Those giants are the men and women wearing hats.”

State. Sen. Steve Oroho thanked the veterans for what they have done and what their families have done.

“There is a lot of evil in the world and America stands up to that evil,” he said.

Sussex County Freeholder Phillip Crabb told the veterans that their sacrifice didn’t stop on the battlefield but it continues to this very day.

Councilman Santo Verrilli addressed the crowd about a man named Wheeler who served more than 20 years in the Army and was killed in Iraq three weeks ago. Verrilli stated how angry he was that the government stated that he wasn’t killed in combat. He requested that people write to the senator, congressmen and the president because this man deserves recognition. Verrilli also explained the women who volunteered as nurses overseas who sacrificed their lives need to be thanked.He also verbalized that the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, relatives and friends were and are affected by the sacrifices.

Miller performed the Reading of the Honor Walk. There are 300 Veterans’ listed in Hardyston.

The Memorial Ceremony commenced with the Playing of Taps by Bob Caggiano, American Legion Post 132.