Changing perspectives over time

When Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (D-12th District) was a boy, schools closed for Veterans Day but did not teach students the significance of the holiday.

Top: War veterans Richard Brody and Bill Nurko represent the Millstone Township Veterans Memorial Council during the Veterans Day assembly in the Millstone Performing Arts Center on Nov. 12. Bottom: Millstone Township Middle School students welcome the veterans. Times and attitudes have changed. Now school districts across the country hold Veterans Day assemblies, welcome veterans into the schools, and educate students about veterans' issues.

O'Scanlon, who attended the Nov. 12 veterans program in the Millstone Performing Arts Center, said, "We need to recognize folks who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. These [Millstone veterans] know a level of courage … that we may never have a chance to see in ourselves. The important people aren't politicians. They are the people who put on uniforms and protect our way of life and our country."

Local veterans Carl A Wehmann, Lou Ambio, Irwin L. Cohen, Bill Nurko, Chris Vereb, Barry Rosenzweig, Don Marantz, Richard Brody, Frank Simacek, Rich Hileman, Richard Ousley, Al Lukowicz, Jerry Gottlieb, John Van Wyck and Gary Amatrudo were honored during the program, which the school district hosted in collaboration with Cablevision and the History Channel.

Middle school students watched the History Channel's "Story of Veterans Day" video and took part in a question-and-answer session with Libby O'Connell, chief historian and senior vice president of corporate outreach at A&E Television Networks. She told students that the History Channel has been working with Cablevision to encourage more kids around the country to participate in Veterans Day.

"There are different views about how the war is going, but we want to make sure all men and women coming home feel welcome," O'Connell said. "It's not a matter of how many different opinions there are about war, but a matter of Americans uniting to support our veterans."

Richard Brody, Millstone VeteransMemorial Council chairman, told students that attitudes toward veterans have changed since the Vietnam War. He told students that someone in the airport spit on him when he returned home from serving in Vietnam.

"I owe it to today's veterans to make sure it doesn't happen again, to make sure the American public recognizes their service and their sacrifices," Brody said.

Students listened to Gottlieb, who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War, read the poem "In Flanders Fields." They also met Joseph Worley, a Navy veteran from Douglasville, Ga., who attended the assembly with his golden retriever, Benjamin.

Worley was serving as a hospital corpsman in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 when the first vehicle in his medical convoy hit an improvised explosive device (IED). Worley jumped out to aid his comrades and stepped on another IED. He lost his left leg below the knee and suffered severe damage to his right leg and ankle.

Worley not only wears a prosthetic leg and uses a wheelchair, he also relies on Benjamin, a dog trained by VetDogs—Veteran's K-9 Corps, to help him with balance, stability and retrieval.

"Being a vet, I have appreciation for veterans," Worley said. "I have a lot of respect for anyone who serves our country in any fashion."

Worley told students that the worst part of his military service was that he had to leave Iraq a week and a half before the rest of his comrades did.

"I was really worried about my guys," he said.

Worley also told students about some four-legged veterans. He said the American military trained German shepherds to work in Iraq. He said the dogs found a buried cache of weapons.

"They saved 20 to 30 guys' lives," Worley said.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (D-12th District) told students to think of all the military heroes who could not be on the stage that day.

"Think of the people who have served and given their lives for this country," she said. "They are here today also, but in a different form. People have the power in government because men and women fought in the armed services against queens, kings and other dictators."

Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja said she looks forward to seeing how students will take charge of veterans' issues when they grow up.

"It starts with your education and understanding of what they've gone through, understanding all aspects of war, and your ability to empathize with them," she said. "I look forward to the leadership you will bring in the future."

During the assembly, representatives from Cablevision also presented the Millstone Township Veterans Memorial Council and VetDogs—Veteran's K-9 Corps with $2,500 each.