Press Release Veterans Appreciation Day Sept. 20, 2014

Posted by John Shockley

on Sep 24, 2014

“Service Above Self”

Military/Veterans Appreciation Day a Fun Day For All

Attendees at Rotary’s Second Annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Day, Saturday, September 20, were treated to an inspiring rendition of the national anthem sung by Hillsborough High School student, Pooja Singh, as a plane circled high above the crowd at Central Jersey Airport towing a 30 X 50 ft. American flag. The opening ceremonies continued with Operation Chillout Executive Director, Ray Chimileski, delivering the invocation, followed by the Somerset County Pipes and Drums playing a variety of service songs, and concluding with a formal welcome and comments by dignitaries.

Over a thousand attendees, including active military, veterans and their families, as well as the general public, came out for the day’s activities, which included airplane rides offered by Tristate Aviation, and helicopter rides – a crowd favorite - offered by Ocean Helicopter. There were vintage aircraft and classic cars on display, along with fire and emergency vehicles, a smoke simulator and heavy equipment simulator.

Under the leadership of Joe Spera of the Dunellen-Green Brook Rotary Club, Rotarians from the Hillsborough and Branchburg clubs joined forces to cook and serve a wide selection of food from popcorn to pasta, while the Piscataway Club booth sold soda and water. Information booths manned by the Veterans Administration, VIPER – Veterans in Pursuit of Educational Readings, and Somerset County Library did a brisk business. Members of Operation Shoebox and Operation Chillout collected donated items for distribution to troops and veterans, as well as monetary contributions. Funds donated by the Berkeley-Heights Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Princeton and the previously mentioned Rotary Clubs, which go to support both Operation Shoebox NJ and Operation Chillout are, are expected to total more than $7,000.

The Rotary Clubs are extremely grateful for the support of many local agencies and businesses, too many to mention here, for their donations of equipment, food, time and money. A special thank you goes to the Raritan Valley Civil Air Patrol Squadron for their handling of both aircraft and vehicular traffic. Without their help the appreciation day would not have been possible.