American Legion, Order Of Purple Heart Hold Belleville Ceremony

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Sons of the American Legion. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Veterans Day, though much different than years past due to the COVID pandemic, was celebrated in Belleville by the town and its veterans, including those from American Legion Post 105 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapter 366.

In the Veterans Day ceremony’s keynote speech, newly elected American Legion Post 105 Commander Joseph J. Cobianchi stated that “our debt to these heroes can never be re-paid but our gratitude and respect must last forever.” The ceremony and speech were held at the Union Avenue Veterans Memorial, coordinated and conducted by the Township of Belleville. As part of that ceremony, American Legion Post 105 and Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 105 were asked to participate by having membership at the memorial, as well as by providing a color guard and by having the Post Commander speak. In closing his address, Commander Cobianchi expressed a view held by many in Belleville – “Veterans have given us freedom, security and the greatest nation on earth. It is impossible to put a price on that. We must remember them. We must appreciate them.”

As is done each year, after the keynote speech, members of the veterans and public service community placed wreaths commemorating our war-dead at the foot of the Memorial. Some of the more somber moments of the day were when Commander Cobianchi read from the memorial the names of the over 150 Belleville-ites who died in the service of their country – the 118 who died in World War II, 22 who died in World War I, five who died in the Korean War era, and the 11 who died in Vietnam.

A bugler from Belleville played taps following the reading of the honor roll.

Following the memorial, participants and veterans were invited back to the Post on Washington Ave for a “veterans lunch” held by SAL 105, and for a ceremony involving the Purple Heart Chapter 366. A group made up of combat wounded servicemen, MOPH 366 was recently invited to and voted on making American Legion 105 their permanent home. In a ceremony held out front of the Post building, attendees watched as the Military Order of the Purple Heart raised their flag commemorating their move to a new home. Purple Heart 366 Commander Matt Escrzkowicz also presented Vietnam Veteran John X. Bezzera with an award, who was honored earlier in the day as Nutley’s Veteran of the Year.

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