Port Jervis honors heroes at D-Day ceremony (VIDEO & GALLERY)

PORT JERVIS – Port Jervis Rotary hosted a ceremony on June 6, the 82^nd anniversary of D-Day, to pay tribute to heroes represented by dozens of flags sponsored and posted in their honor at the corner of Sullivan Avenue and East Main Street. The Rotary’s Flags for Heroes hero names and sponsors were read during the noon ceremony by Rotary President Joe Neenan and Past Presidents Amador Laput and Howard Kuperman.

Along with patriotic music provided by The Broome Street Band, three speakers addressed the group of approximately 75 who attended this year’s Flags for Heroes tribute.

Cpl. Jonathan Gould – USMC 1965-1969 – spoke of his gratitude for Port Jervis’ great patriotism , and of memories he carries with him of his 1966-1967 service in Vietnam.  Only recently able to share some of his wartime experiences, Gould said he receives help in dealing with memories of war and urges others to do the same.

“These flags behind me are not to be looked at lightly,” Gould said, noting his own father was taken Prisoner of War during the Battle of the Bulge. Gould himself gave up joining his PJHS Class of 1965 classmates in crossing a stage to receive his diploma.

 “I did not graduate.  I quit in March of 1965 to go fight in Vietnam with the Marines. I saw a lot of men not come back.  June 14 was an especially very, very, very, very hard time for me. I’ve thought about it a lot, and still do. I get help for this,” Gould said.  “I’ve known others who have come back, but have committed suicide because of what happened to them over there.  They did not go get the help. If you know of anyone in need of any kind of help, tell them to get in touch with me, the VA, or somebody – and get help, because it is worth it.”

Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden followed Gould in recognizing the Port Jervis community and its heroes whom he said are not defined by a uniform or title but by their character, their courage, kindness and willingness to step forward to make meaningful differences in the lives of others.  He reflected on heroes that came before us to serve in the military, including the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy, and currently, as well as heroes whose everyday service is sometimes recognized, but often not.

“This is a close-knit community where service to others is who we are.  Our story has always come from people willing to take a step forward to help one another. It is important to note and honor those heroes who choose service, a willingness to teach, educate, protect or lift somebody up in need,” Worden said. “Those quiet heroes, quiet everyday heroes who feed the hungry, care for our seniors, guide and protect our youth, and serve as the backbone of countless civic organizations – like the Rotary – across our nation. Heroism is in everyday choices we make that echo in our family, neighborhoods and generations of today.”

PJ 4^th Ward Councilman Stan Siegel presented remarks on behalf of the mayor and Common Council, thanking the Rotary for helping the community honor heroes in their lives through the Field of Flags’ powerful symbol of freedom and liberty.

“A hero is someone who puts the needs of another above their own.  They are veterans, police, firefighters, and 1^st responders who put their life on the line every day, community leaders and other leaders – or teachers, coaches, mentors, parents,” Siegel said.  “Sometimes heroes are known in their lifetime for their achievements, and sometimes we call them heroes after they are gone. Either way, they are heroes to us in a very special way.  So, as we look at these flags, let it be a reminder of all the different heroes in our lives who have given his/her life to something bigger than self.”

Funds raised by the Flag of Fields are used for community service and scholarships presented annually by The Rotary.

Following are the heroes recognized this year, their service, and the name of each hero’s flag sponsor:

OUR HEROES

Alvar Aalto, Finnish Architect, V. Barras Architect

All our Military and Port Jervis First Responder, George & Joan Rollman

All who served, VFW Post 161, Bill & Vicky Harris

Joseph “Joe” Allum, US Army Corps, Bruce & Leila DeAngelo

Frank Amaditz, Sgt., US Army Air Corps, Italy, WWII, Carl Amaditz

Paula Amaditz, Loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother, Her Church Family

Margaret Anderson, WWII Wife, Howard E. Kuperman

John Anders Anderson, WWII Spitfire Pilot Royal Norwegian Air Force, Howard E. Kuperman

Edwin L. Anderson, US Army, Private 3^rd Infantry Division Artillery (Divarty) Vietnam, Amador Laput

Michael P. Avella, Mast. Sgt. National Guard, Loretta Avella

Leonard “Pounder” Balch, US Air Force, Bruce & Leila DeAngelo

Herman “Lefty” Barth, US Army, Korean War Military Police, Michael & Dorothy Barth

John F. Bell, U.S. Army- WWII, John Bell

Theodore “Ted” Brace, US Navy, Bruce & Leila DeAngelo

Daniel Callahan, HMC, Scott & Donna Taylor

Debbie Chilandese, Mom, Nana, Great Grandma, Ulana and Jason Emerson

Dominic Cicalese, Mayor, Past Port Jervis Fire Chief, Linda, Carol & Lia Cicalese

Frank E. Day, Jr., SPC4, Janet Day

Michael Della Pia, Corrections Peace Officer, Wendy Della-Pia

Keith Alan Drennan, Sr., Kimberly Harripersad

Richard F. Drew, Past Secretary Port Jervis Fire Dept., Barbara Drew

Aldo M. Eccher, Chief Gunners Mate Navy WWII, Theresa & Steven Balogh

Flags for Heroes Committee, Joe Neenan

James T. Flynn, Beloved Husband, Father and Poppy, Karen Davidson

Cpl. Jonathan Gould, USMC 1965-1969, Vietnam 1966-1967

Stanley Grodsky, US Army Vietnam War Special Forces, R. W. Schultz, CPA

William Hannigan, WWII US Army, Linda Hannigan

Joseph Hannigan, WWII US Navy, Linda Hannigan

William F. Harris, US Army, Korea, Bill & Vicky Harris

Francis E. Hartmann, US Navy WWII, Paul Hartmann

Arthur, Michelle, Jennifer, The Henn Children, Arthur Henn

Joseph Hinkley, US Army WWII, Diane Hartmann

Red Hossann, Hossan Masonry, Elaine Tedesco

William Kent & James Kent, US Navy & US Army, Margaret Leonard

Wayne Kidney, Past Port Jervis Building Inspector, Elaine Tedesco

Frank Kiernan, Member of the New York National Guard, Paul Brislin

Martin Knapp, Vietnam War US Army Special Forces, Linda Hannigan

Carol E. Kuperman, Registered Nurse VA Hospital, Howard E. Kuperman

Shirley Kuperman, WWII Wife, Howard E. Kuperman

Isadore Kuperman, US Army WW I Wildcat Division, Howard E. Kuperman

Philip B. Kuperman, Sgt. US Army WWII  Persian Gulf Command, Howard E. Kuperman

Dr. Amador J. Laput, Eldest of Ten, Great Patriarch and Papa, Amador Laput

Donald & Bernard Leonard, Michele Witt

Martin Maher, WWII US Army Air Force, Linda Hannigan

Dennis Marsh, US Marines, Vietnam, NY State Police Senior Investigator BCI, Howard E. Kuperman

Alexander “Skip” Melnick, US Navy, Todd Melnick

Edwin Muhlbeck, CPL US Marine Corps, Joanna Muhlbeck

Richard O’Connell, Police Officer, Colin O’Connell

Donald Parker, Pvt. First Class Army National Guard, Shaun Parker

Richard “Dick” Pendell, US Army, Bruce & Leila DeAngelo

Port Jervis Rotary Club, Joe Neenan

Don Reed, Sr., US Army, Jean Reed & Debby Hoffman

Ed Ridley, Lieutenant United States Navy Reserve, Bob Ridley

Robert D. Ridley, SP4, Edward T. Ridley

Peter Bohnwagner, Thomas Case, Peter Garms, Pierce Malmquist, John Reed, John Ripel, Clifford Stone, Paul Tiguel, Jerry Evans, Richard Allee, Jack Pearce (PJ Vietnam War Memorial), Stanley & Sharon Siegel

William J. Slaughter III, Lt. J.G. US Navy, Vietnam, Bill & Vicky Harris

Jerome Vandermark, 911 First Responder, Stephanie & Louise Vandermark

Joshua Zahora, Airman First Class, Doug & Carol Starr