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NJ Celebrates Vets on WWI Centennial

Ang Santos
/
WBGO

Veterans Day 2018 marked the centennial anniversary of the end of WWI. 

“It was 100 years ago today on the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month that guns fell silent and the first world war came to an end,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy addressing dozens of veterans.  “Of course, no one knew then when the bells tolled that it would be the first world war.  It was known only as the great war.  Some called it the war to end all wars.  How we wish they were right.”

Gloria Coino says members of her family served in every American war.  

“One day a year is great, but you’d be surprised at the number of people that don’t recognize our veterans.  It is becoming more and more that people in the stores would say thank you for your service.  That means a lot to veterans in this country.”

Gloria’s husband, Robert Coino, IS a Vietnam Army vet, he says there’s a special comradery in the military.

“We kid around, when worse comes to worse we unite to serve this country and our veterans,” Coino said.

Lester Ponder was in the Marine Corp during Operation Desert Storm.  He helped organize a march in Trenton recognizing mentally ill Veterans.

“I tell them to hold on. Suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary problem.  Things will always get better,” Ponder said.

Michael Schaffer is a United States Navy Veteran.  He served from 1967 through 1973.  

“You take that oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and that oath doesn’t go away.  When you rotate out you took that oath and that’s what you’re going to do,” Schaffer said. We are a different group of people that haven’t served.”

Bells tolled across the country m on Veterans Day at 11:11am honoring the lives lost during the first World War.