Rahway Veterans Brave Bitter Cold to Honor Fallen at Annual Ceremony
ROTC cadets, Purple Heart recipients, and dozens of residents gather as city marks Vietnam battle’s 60th anniversary.
Vietnam veterans Arthur Matthews (left) and Roy Smith (right) of American Legion Post 499 attend Rahway’s Veterans Day ceremony. (The Central Jerseyan)
November 11, 2025
Rahway’s Veterans Memorial Park was wind-whipped and cold on Tuesday morning, the temperature barely reaching 39 degrees. Yet the biting weather didn’t stop dozens of residents, veterans, and students from gathering to pay tribute to those who served.
Wrapped in hats, gloves, and heavy coats, the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder as the city’s annual Veterans Day ceremony unfolded in solemn rhythm.
The ceremony at Veteran’s Park began with the Rahway High School Junior ROTC presenting the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and the high school choir’s rendition of the National Anthem.
Rev. Carmine Pernini of Zion Lutheran Church of Rahway led an opening prayer. Next came speeches from city leaders and veterans, flag plantings by members of the American Legion, and the sharp crack of the Rahway Police Department’s 21-gun salute.
Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, speaking before the memorial and a row of wreaths, opened by recognizing the city council and local dignitaries before turning to the purpose of the day.
“Veterans Day is not simply a date on the calendar,” he said. “It is a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy were secured by individuals who stepped forward, accepted sacrifice, and committed themselves to something greater than their own interests.”
Giacobbe also highlighted the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, noting that the milestone underscored the enduring values of courage and duty.
“Here in Rahway, our veterans hold a special place in the fabric of our community,” he said. “They are our neighbors, coworkers, mentors, and family members. They bring leadership to our civic groups, guidance to our youth, and stability to our institutions.”
Rahway Mayor Raymond Giacobbe salutes at the memorial wreath during the Veterans Day ceremony. (The Central Jerseyan)
Rahway High School senior Shantelle Green performs “Taps” during Tuesday’s Veterans Day ceremony — her final time before graduation. (The Central Jerseyan)
Next came the 21-gun salute and Taps, performed by Rahway High School senior Shantelle Green. It was a personal milestone that carried deep emotion for her mother, April.
“It’s emotional,” April said. “This is her last Taps.”
Standing nearby were veterans from every branch of service, many of them longtime members of Rahway’s American Legion Post 5.
Commander Larry Platt, who served two decades in the U.S. Air Force, said ceremonies like this are about more than remembrance.
“We take care of each other,” he said. “It started while we were in the military. The camaraderie and esprit de corps among the services is outstanding.”
Retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Sardine, now the commander of the Rahway High School ROTC program, led the group of citizen students who presented the colors throughout the day’s events.
“We teach everything about tradition, respect, and honoring the veterans that went before us,” Sardine said. “The students get to meet the people who actually served, regardless of the branch. That’s what today signifies.”
Among those veterans was Army veteran Ronald Lee Stevinson, a Purple Heart recipient who planted a flag in memory of fallen soldiers.
“I did it last year, this year, and I’ll probably do it until I’m not here anymore,” he said with a small smile.
Stevinson was joined in the ceremony by fellow Purple Heart recipient Arthur Matthews, who was wounded in combat in May 1966 in Vietnam. Matthews, who’s now the commander of American Legion Post 499, reflected on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Operation Hump. The brutal battle in 1965 was made famous by the movie We Were Soldiers.
“I lost friends there,” he said. “I come out to show people I’m patriotic and that I served my country well.”
U.S. troops under fire during Operation Hump in Vietnam, a 1965 battle remembered by Rahway veteran Arthur Matthews.
Operation Hump was one of the deadliest days in the 173rd Airborne’s history, with 49 Americans and two Australians killed in action, according to the US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum.
Among the heroes was Specialist Fifth Class Lawrence Joel, who treated wounded soldiers despite being shot twice. Those actions earned him the Medal of Honor. The mention of that battle gave extra weight to this year’s ceremony, linking the present-day gathering to a legacy of service stretching back generations.
The Rahway High School Choir closed the morning with a second performance before Rev. Pernini returned for a final prayer.
As the crowd dispersed, many moved quickly to get out of the cold. A few lingered to shake hands, exchange hugs, or thank a veteran for their service.
Mary Riccardi, a member of American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary, stayed behind in the cold to help others.
“My dad was a World War Two Marine, so every year I come to this ceremony for him,” she said.
On her jacket, she wore one pin for the Marines and another pin for the Navy in honor of her late husband.
Vietnam veteran and former Post 5 commander John Sugzda summed up the spirit of the morning in a few simple words.
“Veterans Day — you do it for the veterans,” he said. “The ones who didn’t come home.“
From left: Robert Southward, John Sugzda, Gene Kolb, and Ronald Stevinson of American Legion Post 5 attend the ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. (The Central Jerseyan)
The Rahway High School Choir performs God Bless America at Veterans Memorial Park. (The Central Jerseyan)
The Rahway High School Marching Band performs a patriotic medley to close the city’s Veterans Day ceremony. (The Central Jerseyan)