Yogi Berra Museum Reaching Out To Veterans With ‘Resource Fair’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — It’s easy to remember Hall Of Fame baseball icon Yogi Berra as the man who coined scores of famous phrases such as “It ain't over 'til it's over.”

But it’s one of the late Montclair resident’s lesser-known accomplishments – his Presidential Medal of Freedom – that Berra’s namesake museum is hoping to leverage at an upcoming Veterans Day “resource fair” on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center will host its second annual drop-in resources fair for military veterans and their supporters from noon to 5 p.m. During the free, public event, organizers hope to use the universal attraction of sports – and Yogi – to provide aid to veterans in need of a helping hand.

Learn more about this event here.

Service providers will offer pro-bono guidance, information and resources for health administration, benefits administration (i.e. claims, compensation), medical health, mental health, legal consultation, and community/town/county/state programs.

In addition, the event will feature a 44-foot “Mobile Vet Center” stationed in front of the museum, as well as screenings of vintage baseball films, ballpark fare, crafts and activities for kids.

Another highlight will be the presentation of the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), the state’s highest military award, to Gerard Sorell, a 92-year-old Austrian-born veteran who escaped the Nazi regime to serve the United States during World War II and later raised his family in the Caldwells.

According to a museum news release:

“A member of the “Greatest Generation," Sorell was born in Vienna in 1926. His family fled the Nazis, eventually landing in New York City. In June 1944 Sorell was drafted into the U.S. Army. In March 1945 his outfit spearheaded the crossing of the Rhine into the German heartland, where he sustained severe ear nerve damage. He went on to serve as an interpreter and interrogator of German prisoners-of-war and government officials. After the war, Sorell studied at Princeton University on the G.I. Bill, where he received degrees in chemical engineering. An accomplished violinist, he also served as Concertmaster and occasional soloist in the Princeton University Orchestra. An avid competitive tennis player who played the sport until just last year, Sorell raised his family in the Caldwells.”

“We launched our Veterans Resources Fair last year, as a new way to sustain Yogi’s values for a new generation,” said Eve Schaenen, the museum’s executive director. “The response from the veterans’ community was tremendous, making it an easy decision for us to hold the fair again. We’re incredibly grateful to Duane Morris and the vendors willing to join us in support of our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who served.”

• See related article: Yogi Berra Gets Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page here.

Photos: Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center