1955: PRIVATE GLOVER, THOMAS L., RA 12480163

Ask any veteran who served in Uncle Sam's U.S. military if they still remember their serial number and I would bet that he or she would pull it out of the past like a bolt of lightning. My service with Uncle Sam as an "RA," (vs. a "US") was an experience that I will carry with me forever. As indicated in the article I wrote a number of years ago, the gifts the army gave me were twofold: 1) Teaching me to touch type, and 2) making a man out of me.

2009: MEMORIAL DAY, 2009. WE REMEMBER

I put this little vignette together with graphics from my World Wars I and II folders. Richard Divine was the brother of popular Hamilton High Physical Education teacher, Don Divine. Lt. Gaudette is my cousin, Sgt. Len Glover is my brother, Bob Dietrich is an old neighborhood friend, and the rest are memories of "The War to End all Wars."

WWII: BROAD STREET PARK VETERANS' HONOR ROLL

I wish I was around when the decision was made to destroy these World War II community displays. They were prominently placed all over the area, and I have searched in vain to see if any have survived. If you look closely, and if you have a larger monitor, many of the names are legible in my graphic.

1989: Hamilton's VFW Post 491

The folks at "491" are ever willing and able to help local worthy causes. Not only veterans' causes but civic endeavors such as their suppor for the Sunshine Foundation as in the photo above.

1944: Local Heroes from "The Greatest Generation"

2008: THE LATE BILL OPFERMAN TO BE HONORED ON VETERANS' DAY 2008

Above: Tom Glover photo of Bill Opferman at the Mayor's January, 2008 inaugural ceremony

I have Received the following from Mayor John Bencivengo's office, specifically from Dominic DeGregory, Mayoral Aide. Thanks for the heads up, Dom:

====================================

Friends of Bill Opferman,

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at Noon, we will be gathering at the East Entrance of Veterans Park (the entrance off of Yardville-Hamilton Square Road, where the Tank is) to remember our friend, Bill Opferman. If you are available that afternoon, please join us. Feel free to inform others who may have known Bill, but who may not have received this e-mail.

Sincerely,
Dominic

1973: HAMILTON HERO GERALD VENANZI

How well I remember the parade they held in honor of Captain Gerald Vananzi! Most Hamiltonians were on the sidelines cheering the Viet Nam hero who was a prisoner of war. I often wondered what happened to Captain Vananzi; nothing was heard from him after his return to Hamilton in 1973.


The following is from, "WE CAME HOME," copyright 1977, by Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor - P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602

UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO.:

GERALD S. VENANZI

Captain - United States Air ForceShot Down: September 17, 1967

Released: March 14, 1973

I was born on the 30th of June 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey where I havelived for my entire life. After high school I attended Parks College of St.Louis University where I received a degree in Aeronautics in 1965. InOctober 1966 I completed my navigator training and started RF-4C training atShaw AFB, South Carolina and Mt. Home AFB, Idaho. In June 1962 I proceededto Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, where I was permanently stationed.On the 17th of September 1967 while navigator on an RF-4C aircraft, I washit by a Surface-to-Air missile and ejected from my aircraft about 25 milessouthwest of Hanoi. After spending 45 minutes on the ground, I was capturedby the enemy, thus starting my internment.I think I can summarize my experience and survival as three faiths and onetruth. Faith in your country. That the United States involvement in Vietnam was thecorrect decision for our government to make. Also faith that the governmentwas doing everything they could for us. Faith in God. My faith in religion grew as I was a prisoner. I saw manythings happen which could possibly be described as minor miracles. At anyrate, I knew God was with us.
Faith in my fellow POWs. No one turned in another POW to the enemy. Youcould always count on another POW for support in any way they could give it.During a period of solitary confinement I was very depressed and I attributemy sanity directly to three POWs who gave me constant encouragement.
Last, the truth. The truth we knew to help us battle the enemies' propagandaprogram. My future plans at this time are somewhat unsettled, although I believe Iwill return to Mather AFB, California as an instructor navigator. Anotherpossibility is to go to law school

Gerald Venanzi retired from the United States

Air Force as a Colonel. He andhis wife Carol reside in Virginia.

2008: PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND LISTEN

TOM REED IS A NATIVE OF TRENTON'S GOOSETOWN, AND ONE OF THE LOYAL VISITORS TO THIS WEBSITE. IT'S COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT TOM IS NOT ONLY A CONTEMPORARY OF MINE, BUT HE ALSO HAS A TRAIT WHICH IS COMMON TO ALL OF THE GLOVER FAMILY. MOM GLOVER USED TO SAY, "WE WEAR OUR HEARTS ON OUR SLEEVES." I HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO "LOSE IT" AT GRADUATIONS, WEDDINGS, CONFIRMATIONS, PATRIOTIC PARADES (ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING A JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA MARCH AND OLD GLORY PASSES BY.) AS TOM REED'S AND MY TRIBUTE TO MEMORIAL DAY, AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR VETERANS EVERYWHERE,

PLEASE READ THIS VERY TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FAST VANISHING "GREATEST GENERATION" AND CLICK ON THE LINK TO HEAR A SONG WHICH WILL TOUCH YOU DOWN TO YOUR VERY DEEPEST SOUL. THESE WONDERFUL VETERANS ARE NOW IN THEIR MID AND LATE 80'S, AND VERY RAPIDLY GOING TO THEIR ETERNAL REST.

*****************

FROM TOM REED:
The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood!Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach , Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. 'I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing,' he said bitterly.At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, 'Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you.'Then the old soldier began to cry.'That really got to me,' Bierstock says.Cut to today.Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful 'Before You Go' does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.'If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot,' says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. 'The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them.'The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren. 'It made me cry,' wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss ' the unspeakable horrors' he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. 'I can never thank them enough,' the son wrote. 'Thank you for thinking about them.'Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington . Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.GOD BLESS every EVERY veteran...and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this !

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:

http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYG

1913: A Civil War Vet

Here's the story of Joe Allibone, and his exploits in the Civil War.

Pennington's William P.Howe, Jr.

I met this gentleman many years ago when my buddy Don Slabicki and I worked for Fred and Edna Kuser. Bill Howe was Edna Howe Kuser's brother. We met him long after his World War I army service. Indeed, when we met him he was a big game hunter. I recall his stories of going on safaris in Africa. His father, William P. Howe Senior was the former Mayor of Pennington. As I recall, the Mayor was a native of Tennesse before settling in Pennington at "The Birches." The Howe's had a very busy nursery in Pennington and Hamilton back in the 30's and 40's.