Boro honors those who protect freedom

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Raymond Charlebois, Canadian Army, salutes during the Red Bank Veterans Day ceremony held at the Veterans Monument on Monmouth Street on Nov. 11. Right: Frank Sole, Red Bank, who served in the U.S. Army, was one of the veterans in attendance at the ceremony held to thank all those who are serving or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Red Bank community members, borough officials and students from local schools were on hand at the Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony to honor those who have served the country.

A portion of the street was closed off as people crowded around the veterans monument located at 51 Monmouth St. next to the YMCA's Children's Cultural Center.

Students from the Red Bank Charter School and Red Bank Regional High School presented separate musical performances.

Maj. Gen. Dennis Via said he was honored to represent the U.S. Army and salute the millions of veterans who have served and continue to serve the country.

"A veteran is someone who at one point in his or her life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for the amount of up to and including their lives. A blank check for freedom," he said.

Via said that throughout the nation's history, veterans have come from every walk of life.

"They were people we have known and loved. And they are people around us every day, our close friends and neighbors, our sons and daughters, our husbands and wives, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents," he said. "Whatever and whenever they serve, they carry with them the values and ideas of our great nation, and at times of adversity and danger our veterans have always stepped forward to protect our nation and to become vessels of freedom for millions of people in other nations around the world."

Via said the ceremony reaffirmed the "outstanding community support our neighbors have always provided for members of the armed forces and for our veterans and their families."

Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna and three members of the Borough Council were on hand for the ceremony.

"We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude and debt to all those who served, not just in World War I, but also World War II and up to the present time," he said. "It is so gratifying to us as elected officials to see the presence of the young people — they are our hope. You are our future."

Rich Lotz, leading knight from the Red Bank Elks, explained the significance behind Veterans Day.

"Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is a day America set aside to honor American military personal who died as a result of wounds sustained in combat. That's not quite true," he said. "Memorial Day is the day we set aside for those that we honor who have given their lives in protection of our country. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all the American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country."

He said Nov. 11 is the day the country ensures that "veterans know we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in their lives to help keep our country free."