The Record Special Sections Tribute to Veterans 11-11-2019

NORTHJERSEY.COM ❚ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 ❚ 1
“You are about to
embark upon the
great crusade
toward which we
have striven these
many months.
The eyes of
the world are
upon you…”
GENERAL
DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER
D-DAY 1944
The first woman to serve as a commander for American Legion Post 18 in Weehawken,
Lucy Del Gaudio was also named Grand Marshal of the 2018 Weehawken Memorial
Day Parade. She is pictured with the female Marine ROTC Cadet Color Guard.
Army Veteran
Advocates for Women
Who Served in the Military
By MARGIE DRUSS FODOR
Special to Tribute to Veterans
O O O
TRIBUTE TO
O O O
VETERANS
A Soldier’s Story
100-YEAR-OLD WWII VETERAN HONORED FOR SERVICE
FAMILY-OWNED FLAG COMPANY CELEBRATES
ITS HISTORY AND CONNECTION TO VETERANS
ADVERTISING
SUPPLEMENT TO
NOVEMBER 11, 2019
F
or decades, American women in the
military have put their lives on the
line. They are nurses, pilots, soldiers,
and trusted officers behind the
scenes.
But, veteran Lucy Del Gaudio of Belleville
says these women are still often “invisible.”
Her continuing efforts are helping to
change that perception.
“We serve with the same passion and
the same drive — as proudly as a male,” Del
Gaudio, a U.S. Army veteran, said. “People
need to realize what service women have
given to this country.”
Del Gaudio, 48, has advocated for dis-
abled women veterans, served as second
vice commander of American Legion Post
18 in Weehawken (the first woman to serve
as a post commander there), and joined
a grassroots movement to establish a
day dedicated to women veterans in New
Jersey, to name a few of her many accom-
plishments.
This past June, Del Gaudio’s efforts
on behalf of women veterans successfully
came to fruition as she witnessed Acting
Governor Sheila Oliver sign a resolution
into law dedicating every June 12th as
“Women Veterans Appreciation Day.”
Women will still be recognized, as well, on
Veterans Day, a national holiday held every
November 11th honoring those who served
in the armed forces.
The June signing took place at
Prudential Tower in Newark, where Del
Gaudio has worked the last seven years
as a program manager for Prudential
Advisors. She credits Prudential with
“allowing me to be the veteran that I
am,” and her efforts were endorsed by
Prudential Chairman and CEO Charlie
Lowrey who commented, ”I am very proud
of and admire Lucy for her advocacy on
behalf of women veterans.”
Women are among the fastest grow-
ing veteran demographic, accounting for
more than 30 percent of the increase in
veterans who served between 2014 and
2018, according to the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Del Gaudio, the youngest of five children
See WOMEN VETERANS Page 4