Somerset Patriots to host 15th Veterans of America Day
BRIDGEWATER - There's a simple reason why Joe Yuzuik has been dedicated to the annual Veterans of America Day at TD Bank Ballpark.
"We owe it to the veterans," said the 71-year-old township resident who served as a sergeant in the Marines in Vietnam, made it through the Tet Offensive and "came home as a whole person."
Yuzuik will be celebrating the 15th Veterans of America Day on Aug. 27 before the game between the Somerset Patriots and Bridgeport Bluefish. For 15 years, the Somerset Patriots have hosted the stirring and emotional tribute to veterans of the American armed services.
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"It is always our honor to welcome and celebrate our veterans. This event is one of the highlights of the season for the Somerset Patriots and the Kalafer family," said Steve Kalafer, chairman of the Somerset Patriots Baseball Club.
"It's our opportunity to say thank you to the 'true patriots' that have served our country and a special way to recognize all that veterans and their families have done for every one of us."
"Steve Kalafer is such a generous person," Yuzuik said. "He will do anything for veterans."
Guests of honor at this year's ceremony are retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer, who was guest speaker at last year's John Basilone Memorial Parade in Raritan Borough, and Col. Jack Jacobs, a Medal of Honor winner from Far Hills who served in the Army during Vietnam. Jacobs is also a military analyst for NBC and MSNBC.
"Col. Jacobs goes out of his way to attend every year," said Yuzuik.
Previous guests of honor included actor Matthew Modine, who starred in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket" as a Stars and Stripes reporter covering the Tet Offensive.
All veterans will receive free tickets to the game. Tickets for friends and families of veterans will be $5. Discounted tickets must be ordered in advance. For more information, call the Patriots box office at 908-252-0700 or email ticketing@somersetpatriots.com.
The ceremonies will start at 4 p.m., when about 400 veterans will march onto the field before thousands of fans as each branch's military hymn is played, Yuzuik said.
There will be at least two World War II veterans, ages 91 and 93, in attendance, Yuzuik said.
Most of the veterans will be from the Vietnam Era of the 1960s and 1970s, though there will be some from Korea and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Any veteran, no matter when they served or whether or not they served in combat, are welcome to participate, Yuzuik said.
Leading the parade will be Kevin Donovan, a 1980 graduate of Immaculata High School, who served in the Army. He volunteered to be a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
After the parade, there will a performance by Frosty Lawson, who has appeared at all previous Veterans of America Days. He will sing the national anthem and "God Bless the USA."
Six Marines will perform a re-enactment of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima. There will be a military flyover, plus Yuzuik promised "a few surprises."
"Every year it gets better and better," Yuzuik said.
When he came home from Vietnam in 1968, Yuzuik was told that he shouldn't wear his uniform off the post because of the hostility that servicemen faced during the unpopular war.
But the public's attitude toward veterans has changed "100 percent," he said.
"We want to bring people together," Yuzuik said.
The veterans do not want special recognition, Yuzuik said.
"We just want people to say thank you," he said.
To participate in the veterans parade, call Yuzuik at 732-563-4012.
Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com