The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photo courtesy of Ramon Hache
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Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Village council congratulates the American Legion Post 53 on the 100th Anniversary of their charter.
The Council offered a thank to the members of American Legion Post 53 for their service to our country and for continuing to work to ensure our veterans and fallen heroes receive the respect and dignity they so selflessly earned and deserve.
photos by Joe Burns
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Ridgewood NJ, About 200 residents and friends attended the annual Memorial Day celebration conducted by American Legion Post 53 at Ridgewood’s Van Neste Square Memorial Park. 2019 is the American Legion’s 100th anniversary as a veterans organization, and Post 53’s 100th anniversary as an American Legion post.
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Ridgewood NJ, American Legion Post 53 will conduct a Memorial Day service at 11am, Monday, May 27 at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. All residents are invited to attend. Please bring a chair or blanket.
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Glen Rock NJ, in a case of political correctness run amuck , Glen Rock Public Schools backs out of an American Legion Coloring Contests as cartoon of US Military is called offensive .
Statement from Bruce Watson, Interim Superintendent regarding the American Legion Coloring Contest :
“I have received a number of emails regarding my decision not to have our 4th and 5th grade students participate in this year’s American Legion Coloring Contest. This has caused me to pause. Perhaps I had too much concern for the impact of the picture. Today we look at everything thru a different lens when it comes to our students. There was no disrespect intended to our veterans and now after listening to parents, I will reverse this decision and allow the pictures to go home for parents and students to decide if they wish to compete.”
photo courtesy of Bergen County Historical Society
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Ridgewood NJ, Veterans Day Wreath Laying – November 11, 2018, Sunday. Meet at Van Neste Square, Ridgewood at 2 pm.
Each year the Bergen County Historical Society raises awareness of different monuments throughout the County to raise awareness of these important sites and to remember the men and women who have served. This year join us in Ridgewood, NJ as we participate in American Legion Post #53’s Veterans Day Service on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, American Legion Post #53 will hold a Veterans Day Service and Wreath Laying on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
Each year the Bergen County Historical Society raises awareness of different monuments throughout the County to raise awareness of these important sites and to remember the men and women who have served. This year join us in Ridgewood, NJ as we participate in American Legion Post #53’s Veterans Day Service on Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Photo below is last year in River Edge.
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, American Legion Post #53 will hold a Veterans Day Service on Sunday, November 1th at 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. This is a correction to the Village of Ridgewood Village Calendar.
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Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 30, 2018 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.” The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.
Continue reading Gold Star Mother’s Day Ceremony ,September 30th
photos courtesy of Joe Burns American Legion Post 53
July 11,2018
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Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, on June 27th the borough of Ho Ho Kus dedicated a historical sign at The Hopper – Zabriskie Family Cemetery in Ho-Ho-Kus. Located on at the lower train station parking lot. This hidden historical treasure was an Eagle Scout project by Alex Melarti, with help from Stan Kober. The project included a major cleanup, repairs, painting, adding mulch and gravel paths, erosion prevention, plantings, a new bench and the historical sign.
Pictured here(L to R) John Hanlon, Planning Bd President, Council President Doug Troast, Stan Kober, Project Liason, Scout Alex Melarti, Councilman Steve Shell, Borough Admin. Bill Jones, Chief Chris Minchin, and Councilman Kevin Crossley – special thanks to long time resident Joe Burns American Legion Post 53 for the pictures.
July 10th ,2018
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Ridgewood NJ, The Spirit of America’s Story:The Wall is a Traveling Exhibit Commemorating Our Country’s Fight for Freedom from 1775 to Present Day , “The Wall is a richly illustrated visual story of America’s struggles for freedom, a visual walk through our country’s history and our fight to be free. Our goal is to capture and preserve the spirit, the sacrifices and rich history of the American people. We do this by honoring those men and women in uniformed service who have and are currently serving and protecting our way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness both here and abroad.” (Quotation excerpted from www.spiritofamericasstory.com/) Courtesy of Stanley A. Kober.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Address: 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
November 12th thru November 18th ,2018
September 7, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 24, 2017 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.” The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.
In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.
In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our seventh annual event commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 24th, at Van Neste Park. There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 24th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!
Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following location:
Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,
at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450
Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup
Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by helping to raise awareness through:
talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;
joining us at Van Neste Park; and,supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE – MAY 29 – 11AM
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood American Legion Post 53 is conducting a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 29th 2017. It will take place at 11:00 am in Veterans Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Everyone is invited to join us to honor all Americans who gave their lives so we can live in a free,secure and safe community
August 25th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Sunday, September 25, 2016 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families. The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.”
The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as
Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.
In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annualevent commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 25, 2016. There will be a short ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. and hundreds of luminaries will be lit to honor Gold Star Mothers and their families. But in addition, our goal is to see thousands of other luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood and other towns on September 27th to honor the Gold Star Mothers and families!
Luminaries will be available for a donation before the ceremony at the following
location:
Residence of Bob Paoli, Commander American Legion Post #53,at 368 N. Pleasant Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450
Call 201-445-1738 to arrange time to pickup
Everyone also can stand with us in honoring the Gold Star Mothers and families by
helping to raise awareness through:
talking to your family, friends, and neighbors about the event;
joining us at Van Neste Park; and,
supporting this event with a donation (please make checks payable to the American
Legion Post #53, write “Gold Star event” on the memo line, and send it to the American Legion Post #53, P.O. Box 1525, Ridgewood, NJ 07450).
Thank you for your support and cooperation,/s/ Ridgewood, NJ Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee.
file photo by Boyd Loving
May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The two major events on Memorial day in the Village of Ridgewood are the Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run at Veteran’s Memorial Field, Monday at 8 a.m. and the American Legion Post 53 will host a service at Memorial Park Monday at 11 a.m. in Van Neste Square on East Ridgewood Avenue.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/
The kids were proud too, to take part in the placement of flags on the graves of veterans at Valleau Cemetery.
The tradition is that shortly before Memorial Day, American Legion members place U.S. flags on the graves of their fallen comrades at Valleau Cemetery.
The listing were incomplete and the Legion knew that their quiet tribute missed the graves of some veterans in the 33-acre cemetery. Some graves at Valleau go as far back to the Civil War.
In the past the Legion used what could only be described as a low-tech system for noting the graves of veterans. It consisted of seven plywood boards in the shape of sections of the cemetery. On top of the boards were worn-out sheets of paper with the names of the veterans and the plot numbers. A lot of those names and plot numbers are illegible . We just had to computerize the whole system.
17-year-old Boy Scout Andy Haderthauer, a junior at Ridgewood High School heard about the problem at a Memorial Day Service and applied his computing skills to come up with a solution. Haderthauer put in about 130 hours of work to set up a computerized a system .
With the help of Valleau Cemetery Superintendent Guy Kostka, Haderthauer began his project in August. First he put the board names on the computer list, then set out on a tour of the cemetery, looking over some gravestones that date to the early 1800s.
He also the help of some buddies and fellow Scouts, saving him days of walking the graveyard alone and three months later, Haderthauer had made up his list, and then used software to display the information by name and plot number.
Last year, there were only 350 graves at Valleau that were known to be the resting places of veterans. Now, double that number have been identified through Haderthauer’s efforts.
The project gained Haderthauer recognition as an Eagle Scout and the gratitude of the daughter of Master Sgt. Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. – a winner of the Medal of Honor. Hosking, a 24-year Army veteran, was awarded the military’s highest decoration after he was killed by an explosion in Vietnam in 1967. He jumped on a Vietnamese prisoner who was about to set off a grenade, protecting his men from the blast.
