About Town: Be Proud of Fort Lee

“Be proud. Be proud of Fort Lee,” said Fort Lee V.F.W. Commander Jim Viola as he ended his speech given to crowds of people that filled a “closed-to-traffic” Center Ave. Monday.

The Fort Lee V.F.W. hosted a Memorial Day service that honored not only the men and women who have served their country in the military, and those who continue to serve today, but the Fort Lee Fire Department that saved the V.F.W. from burning down during a fire in 2007.  Viola commended the town’s volunteer firefighters who came rushing to the fire that began in a string of stores structurally connected to the V.F.W. and managed to save the V.F.W. from being destruction.

“We had just finished putting in a brand new kitchen here at the V.F.W.," Viola told the crowd. "I left the post and got home about eight o’clock ready to watch my favorite show, 'Bill O’Reilly,' when I got a call to get back to the post because there was a fire."

He went on to relate how the fire department expertly contained the fire and saved the V.F.W. from any serious damage. Since that day in 2007 Viola has wanted to do something to honor them, to commemorate their valor, and that’s why he chose Memorial Day to present them with a plaque that will forever be on the V.F.W.'s “Wall of Fame” so that everyone can honor them while they are also honoring the deceased members whose pictures and names also adorn the wall.

In addition to members of the Fort Lee Fire Department being present to accept the honor, the police department, along with their color guard, and veterans, were out in full force to pay honor to all those who have served and continue to serve our towns, state and country.

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich spoke of his own father who proudly served in the military, and Assemblywoman Joan Voss spoke about the importance of teaching our children to understand and honor those who have served.

Decorated Vietnam War Marine and head of the V.F.W.'s Purple Heart division, Tony Lione, read the names of all those in Fort Lee who have given their lives in the course of duty—starting with Fort Lee’s Civil War veterans to the veterans of the Vietnam war. Lione also included the names of Fort Lee’s firemen and policemen who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The police department gave a 21-gun salute as the American flag was lowered at the V.F.W. in memory of all those who served and are no longer with us.

Following the Memorial Day service, the V.F.W. gave out free hot dogs and beverages to everyone in attendance and opened up the V.F.W. hall to the public.

Despite the early morning rain, the day turned out to be spectacular, and many residents came out for the service. Students from School No. 2 sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and “God Bless America.”