Memorial Day Ceremony Honors West Orange Veterans

Honoring those who fight for our freedom and our country, the 13th annual West Orange Memorial Day Ceremony lauded the bravery and patriotism of 12 veterans, who were presented with the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal — the state's highest honor for military service.

More than 100 attended the two-hour long ceremony Monday morning on the steps of the municipal building.

So far, West Orange is the most decorated community having awarding 330 service medals to date. 

"Of all the things we do throughout the year, this perhaps has the most significance in terms of what it means," said Mayor Robert Parisi. 

Former mayor and current Assemblyman John Mckeon (D-Essex) started the event 13 years ago as a way to do more for the township's combat veterans. 

"All of us in our lives, unless we're veterans ourselves, it's hard to appreciate the deep commitment they make for all of us. They literally interrupt their lives ... to basically fight for the principles we lead and the life we Americans live," McKeon said. "It's a very poignant ceremony, for some of them its the only formal 'thank you' they get." 

Civil War re-enacters from the 7th New Jersey Volunteers also participated in the traditional rifle salute as the ceremony was a nod to the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. 

"West Orange long before we were here was populated with people that had a strong sense of service and hopefully in some small ways we continue that legacy by doing the things that we can, if not to honor them, to honor their memory by serving their own community in one way or another," said Parisi. 

This year's award recipients included: John M. Banas, who served in Vietnam, Lester M. Bornstein, Harry B. Freeman, Sanford L. Kahn, Robert S. Kurz, John F. Magliacane, Charles Pescatore, Robert J. Uibelhoer, and Michael J. Wilk, who all served in World War II. George E. Lofmark for his service in the Korean War, and Seth Schiffman and Robert L. Walker, Jr. for their service in the US Marine Corps in the Iraqi Freedom war.

Five recipients, Banas, Kahn, Magliacane, Uibelhoer, and Wilk, received the award posthumously.

Four of the recipients, Banas, Bornstein, Kahn, and Wilk, received this award with Oak Leaf Cluster. This signifies that each received a decoration equal to or exceeding the Purple Heart.  In addition, Banas received the NJ Vietnam Service Medal, and Lofmark received the NJ Korean War Service Medal. 

See the video and photos for more details.