Page 4 • Wednesday , November 10 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Memories of Veterans Day from local veterans
VETERANS , from Page 1 said that Veterans Day is important to every american because “ the veterans have given so much for this great country of ours to keep it free .”
“ Others have made the ultimate sacrifice in wars all over the world . i feel that if more people paid more attention to Veterans Day , with gratitude for what veterans have given americans , this would probably be a better country to live in ,” DeLucca said .
Veterans Day was first observed as armistice Day in 1919 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the end of hostilities during World War i , according to the U . S . Department of Veterans affairs ’ Office of Public and intergovernmental affairs . in 1954 , the day became officially known as Veterans Day .
DeLucca was quick to note the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day .
“ Veterans Day is for honor of the veterans who have served in wars and have survived . Memorial Day is for members of the military who have fallen on the battlefield and did not survive , and we memorialize them on a solemn day ,” DeLucca said .
However , DeLucca noted that it is still appropriate to honor fallen soldiers on Veterans Day . One resident who would agree with DeLucca is anthony Cappuccio , whose uncle , Lt . Joseph Centurione , was killed in action near St . Lo , France , on July 13 , 1944 .
Cappuccio ’ s mother , edith , was Centurione ’ s sister . according to contemporary local newspaper articles , Centurione joined the U . S . army in January of 1941 , and earned a battlefield promotion during the
Sicilian campaign for “ outstanding duty in leading his men in the face of extreme danger .”
Centruione was later hailed for braving machine-gun fire during the invasion of Normandy to rescue fellow soldiers from an antitank ditch , the articles state . according to the articles , Centurione — a 1936 graduate of Hammonton High School — was laid to rest in Greenmount Cemetery after lying in state at the VFW Hall .
“ Members of local veteran organizations provided a military escort and made arrangements for the full military honors accorded their fallen comrade . Local business places closed in his memory yesterday between the hours of 9 and 11 a . m .,” one article stated . Cappuccio said that he revisits the articles about his uncle often .
“ i take them out every once in a while and read them . When you read it , you get tears in your eyes sometimes about how , when he was buried , the town closed down for a few hours ,” Cappuccio said . Cappuccio , who was born in 1950 , said that his mother — who died in 1999 — did not often talk of her brother with him .
“ i never really talked to my mother about it that much . i regret , to this day , not asking my mother more about it , like what happened that day and at the funeral ... My sister remembers a letter my mother received from one of the soldiers who was with him . She remembers my mother reading it to her ,” Cappuccio said , noting that family lore holds that Centurione died protecting others from a hand grenade .
Cappuccio said that Centurione ’ s legacy — as well as those of Centurione ’ s brothers , Frank , Cardy and Daniel , who also
COUNCIL , from Page 1 two incumbents beaten in the Hammonton Board of education race .
Former councilman Michael torrissi ( R ) was elected to the New Jersey State assembly , District 8 .
“ at the end of the day , this election was about grassroots . You saw it all throughout Hammonton with lawn signs on every lawn and local passion that carried Jean Stanfield , Brandon Umba and me across the finish line . $ 7 million of Camden-political funding to our opposition was no match for that passion . i know Jean , Brandon and i will use that energy and carry it over to trenton to represent the people of Hammonton and the rest of the 8th District ,” torrissi said in a statement . Former Hammonton Board of education president and current councilman Joseph Giralo was elected to the position of county clerk .
“ i am looking forward to serving the people of atlantic County each and every day ,” Giralo said . Giralo first began serving the public when he was appointed to the planning board .
“ i have been in public life since i was 18 . it is very exciting to keep advancing and to keep going up the ladder . and most important , i have never forgotten where i came from ,” Giralo , 59 , said .
Former councilman and current atlantic County Fifth District
served in the military — has given him a deep appreciation for the service of veterans .
“ it ’ s really an honor to serve in the military ,” Cappuccio said . DeLucca reiterated the importance of observing Veterans Day , and noted that there are plenty of ways , besides the annual ceremony , that residents can celebrate the day .
“ if they see a veteran — or if they know a veteran — thank them for their service . Find out some information about the veteran — what his dos and don ’ ts are , what his likes are . Spend some time with them ,” DeLucca said .
Rs win state , cty . seats ; HF sweeps
Commissioner James Bertino was reelected .
“ i ’ m really overwhelmed by the show of support the voters of the Fifth District have given me in this election . i look forward to working with all in government who want to make the lives of their citizens better ,” Bertino said .
James Curcio , a Hammonton resident , is the current atlantic County surrogate , making it four people from Hammonton serving higher office .
“ the people of Hammonton have always been so supportive of people from Hammonton running for higher office . the elected officials that come from Hammonton are supportive of Hammonton . i think the quality of our people is second to none ,” Giralo said . torrissi , Giralo and Bertino will begin their terms in January . according to the county , the unofficial results for mayor of Hammonton : Hammonton First Mayor Stephen DiDonato received 2,584 votes and Republican challenger William “ Bill ” Cappuccio received 2,057 votes . DiDonato will begin his fourth term in January .
“ i am very honored and excited to serve the taxpayers , all 15,000 ,” DiDonato said .
DiDonato spoke about the four Hammonton residents who will now be serving in higher office .
“ We were talking about that after that evening to have four people to go to higher levels of political affiliation is absolutely unbelievable . Hammonton is a town of hard workers and overachievers . We don ’ t know when to stop ,” DiDonato said . the unofficial results for council were as follows : Councilman thomas Gribbin ( HF ) 2,535 ; Jonathan Oliva ( HF ) 2,492 ; former councilman edward Wuillermin 2,387 ; anthony Rizzotte ( R ) 2,098 ; Rocco “ Rick ” Fichetola 1,954 and anthony “ tony ” Penza 1,950 votes . the unofficial results for the Hammonton Board of education race were as follows , as of November 5 : Kelly Donio 2,070 ; incumbent thomas attanasi 1,909 ; Luke Coia 1,828 ; incumbent erica Polito 1,794 ; incumbent Michael “ Mickey ” Pullia 1,583 votes and Sean Grasso 1,369 votes .
“ i am overwhelmed by the support . i am excited to try to bring the board together to work as a team and reunite the Hammonton School Board ,” Coia said . Donio , attanasi and Coia will be sworn into office in January .
I want to say thank you to all those who supported my campaign for Mayor . Though the outcome was not what we would have liked , I think we accomplished many great things .
We asked many hard questions that I hope the administration will investigate and give us all the answers we deserve .
We have shown that we need to be more aware of actions that Mayor and council take on our behalf and realize that , when need be , we must attend council meetings to listen , learn and question .
We must bring our concerns to the meetings and expect answers in a timely fashion .
My campaign focused on open meetings with public input and information .
We must demand our leaders listen to the needs of every citizen and treat them with them the respect they deserve as taxpayers .
As I have done and will continue to do , we must all be willing to stand up and champion deserving causes , there is strength in numbers and our voices should always be heard .
Thank you again for all your support ! It has been a great experience that hopefully will continue as we move on toward a brighter future for Hammonton .