11/11/15 Veteran’s Day Celebration. Post 372

Master of Ceremony, Commander Bill Quinn welcomed the packed canteen. After posting the colors, Morgan Connelly was introduced and beautifully sang the National Anthem. John Murphy said the invocation.

Quinn introduced a special guest to the crowd, Laurie Antiko, the mother of an ROTC scholarship recipient. Post 372 presented Victoria Durkin with the $2500 scholarship this past May. Mrs. Antiko was there to say how much they appreciated the scholarship and how well her daughter is doing at Rutgers University – Camden. She shared a high school graduation photo of her daughter.

Commander Quinn’s emotions and personal meaning of Veteran’s Day moved the crowd as he held up a hand written card and a framed saying that he received from a women from his church. Quinn then turned the ceremony on to Vice Commander Tim Kraft.

Kraft showed the crowd a few videos and in his words, the videos ‘said it better’ as to the meaning of Veteran’s Day. The videos too moved the silent and attentive crowd. Kraft went on to share the long line of military in his family even showing a newspaper article showing his father swearing him into the navy.

Commander Quinn then introduced the Reverend White, who is in charge of the Camden County Veteran’s Affairs Office. White explained how his office is helping veterans in Camden County with a wide variety of services; everything from employment to health care. Although he is at a county level, he does work with the veterans to gain federal assistance as well. Reverend White shared his military experience and how his service began in the Army and his transition to the Air Force.

Commander Quinn brought Morgan back up to sing America The Beautiful. Colors were retired and Reverend White said the benediction.

A wonderful buffet dinner and dessert followed the service which was cooked by Al Sacca and Peggy Connelly