Community Corner
Local Veterans Honored
The fourth annual benefit was held at Veterans Memorial Park Saturday.
Tim Wright said he does it for one reason and one reason only.
"I don't want them to be forgotten," he said during the fourth annual benefit for local veterans Saturday at Veterans Park. "I am a Vietnam vet and a Desert Storm vet. I know how I was treated when I came home."
He said he doesn't want the same thing to happen to the men and women currently serving in the armed forces. Nor does he want those who made the ultimate sacrifice to be forgotten.
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As such, Wright has erected a four-paneled mobile wall that lists the names of the men and women who have been killed in Afghanistan since the war began in October 2001.
As of 8:28 Friday night, 6,045 soldiers from the mid-Atlantic states—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia—have died as part of the current conflict.
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The wall was available for viewing during Saturday's event. Donations given to Wright's efforts, Fallen Heroes of the Mid-Atlantic States (myspace.com/fallen_heroes_midalantic) benefit the soldiers' families to get assistance, he said.
The overall event Saturday also benefit a number of entities. Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 4 NJ President Paul Berenatto said the money raised from Saturday's event will help the group to continue providing support and other services to the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, and Veterans Haven in Winslow Township.
"We take care of 300 veterans at Veterans Memorial Home," he said.
One of their services is to provide each of them with Christmas gifts over the holidays. At Veterans Haven, they provide picnics and barbecues for the veterans.
In addition to the Fallen Heroes of the Mid-Atlantic States wall, Saturday's event also featured a variety of vendors, music, pony rides and a wreath laying ceremony.
