Vineland honors volunteers

DHM Design, the firm awarded the design of the New Jersey World War II Memorial at Veterans Park in Trenton, recently released a series of computer generated images (CGI) of the memorial. Above, is an aerial perspective of the entire memorial. Below, left to right, are the water walls, the Lone Soldier statue and the Battlefield Marker; next are the amphitheater and the story walls, and finally Lady Victory in the plaza.

Who says volunteerism is dead?

During the past year, nearly 13,000 hours of service were donated by individuals, corporations, veterans’ organizations and community groups to the residents of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home. So the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Vineland staff honored those volunteers, as well as the Project of the Year, Volunteers of the Year and Group of the Year at the annual volunteer luncheon on May 1.

Receiving special recognition for the Project of the Year was the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of New Jersey, under the leadership of State Commander R. Frank Moore and his wife, Peggy, past District President #17 VFW Ladies Auxiliary. The VFW raised the funds to build a pavilion, complete with electricity, in the center courtyard of the new Vineland complex.

“Joe (Romano, Vineland Veterans Memorial Home Chief Executive Officer) asked me as my project to build the pavilion,” says Moore. “I was proud to be offered the opportunity to be a part of the project.”

“When I got the figures, I knew they (the VFW membership) could do it,” states Frank. “They have big hearts,”adds Peggy. The project, which cost approximately $60,000, was completed in almost 10 months. “Our veterans will be enjoying this long after we’re gone,” says Moore.

Volunteers of the Year Carol Moore, State Representative, VFW Auxiliary and Bob Moore, State Representative, VFW, assisted with a coffee club, hosted a root beer float and an ice cream sundae event every Friday afternoon while residents participated in bowling. They also sponsored trips to the Cape May Ferry, the Atlantic City Boardwalk, state VFW parties and fishing.

The Vineland Childrens’ Residential Treatment Center was named Group of Year. Under the guidance of teacher Robert Michael Fleckenstein, the group would visit every Wednesday to discuss history and play games with the residents.

Special recognition was given to the Youth Corporation students, the History Group students, the Creative Achievement students and the Pineland students. There were also 10 individual volunteers and three special event groups, comprised of 18 volunteers, who served the residents.

So if anyone says volunteerism is dead, show them the example of the people making a difference in the lives of the veterans living at the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home.