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HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? YOU DOING GOOD NOW? RIGHT?
HOPE WE DIDN'T MAKE YOU WAIT TOO LONG TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, TO OUR HONOREES, TO ALL WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE TONIGHT AND ALL WHO ARE WATCHING VIA LIVE STREAM.
I'M WAYNE RICHARDSON, PRESIDENT OF ESTES COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR 2023 VETERANS OBSERVANCE CELEBRATION.
WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR TIME, EFFORT, AND IN SOME CASES THE VERY LIVES, SO THAT WE AS CIVILIANS CAN ENJOY A LIFE OF LIBERTY.
SO TO ALL OUR VETERANS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.
WE ARE HUMBLED BY YOUR SACRIFICE, AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
OUR HONOREES PROUDLY REPRESENT ESSEX COUNTY AND HAVE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINES.
SO TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES AND TO ALL VETERANS IN ESSEX COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, HEROISM BRAVERY.
LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO TO BEGIN THIS EVENING'S PROGRAM, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING GABRIELA BOOMER TO PERFORM THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
PLEASE STAND YOU SEE THE THANK YOU GABRIELA, FOR THAT EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE.
WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM HER A, UH, LITTLE MORE ABOUT HER LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE BISHOP CHARLES E. MITCHELL TO THE PODIUM TO LEAD US IN THE OPENING PRAYER.
HE'S A VETERAN HIMSELF AND SENIOR PASTOR OF REDIRECT MINISTRIES IN RELLE PASTOR MR. BISHOP.
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THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED THE ARMED FORCES OF THIS GRACE NATION WHO STANDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIBERTY AND THIS REPUBLIC.
WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS UPON EACH AND EVERYONE, WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THIS WORLD, PROTECTING COASTLINES AND PROTECTING OTHER COUNTRIES, AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES.
WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR SECURITY.
WE PRAY BLESSINGS UPON THEIR FAMILIES.
WE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR LEADERS OF GOVERNMENT, BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONALLY.
AND WE PRAY, LORD, THAT WHATEVER WE DO IN THIS DAY AND HOUR, WE BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO YOUR NAME.
SO WE ASK NOW, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER US, LOVE US, AND KEEP US IS OUR PRAYER FOR WE ASK IT ALL.
I WILL NOW TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO THE CAPABLE HANDS OF MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER TO SHAMI COOPER.
I AM DISTRICT THREE COMMISSIONER TAMI COOPER.
AND I'M HAPPY AND VERY HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE VETERANS AND ALL THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES.
YOU'VE ALREADY MET OUR WONDERFUL PRESIDENT, MR. WAYNE RICHARDSON.
YOU COULD GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IF YOU WANT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR VICE PRESIDENT PRIMES.
OVER TO MY RIGHT, WE HAVE OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES WITH US COMMISSIONER GILL AND COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
AND IF I'M MISSING ANY OTHER DIGNITARIES, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU BEFORE THE PROGRAM IS OVER.
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR FIRST HONOREE FOR TONIGHT, MR. JOSHUA DAVIS II JOSHUA DAVIS ENTERED THE AIR FORCE AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT ON JANUARY 15TH, 1988.
HE WAS PLACED INTO INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE IN 1993, WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL THE END OF 2005 AS A SATELLITE REQUIREMENT.
AND TEST OFFICER MR. DAVIS OVERSAW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SATELLITE SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR SKYNET IV, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH FROM THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY.
SO, MR. DAVIS, I'M A LOVER OF TERMINATOR, SO KNOWING THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT MAKES ME LOVE YOU EVEN MORE.
SO WE HAVE TO THANK MR. DAVIS FOR ALL HIS WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO ALL THAT GOOD SATELLITE CONNECTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT HELP US GET OUR CELL PHONES CONNECTED ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WE MAKE, MAKE SURE WE GIVE A BIG, BIG UP TO MR. DAVIS TONIGHT FOR THAT WONDERFUL WORK FOR HELPING US DO THAT AND STAY CONNECTED.
MR. DAVIS ALSO DIRECTED THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW SATELLITE MANAGEMENT AND TRACKING BOARD FOR THE A-F-S-C-N AT, PLEASE SAY THE NAME OF IT 'CAUSE I KNOW I'M GONNA MESS IT UP.
AIR FORCE BASE IN SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA AFTER ACTIVE DUTY, MR. JOSHUA DAVIS, TAUGHT FOR THE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 15 YEARS IN, IS CURRENTLY IN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF MATH AT NJIT.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA ASK MR. DAVIS TO PLEASE COME JOIN US UP HERE.
JOIN ME UP HERE AT THE PODIUM WHILE WE PRESENT YOU WITH ACCOMMODATION FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AS WELL AS A MEDAL THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICE THAT WE LOVE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WE ALSO HAVE A CERTIFICATE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL'S OFFICE AND FROM ESS COUNTY CHILDREN WHO DID A WONDERFUL CARD TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL.
UH, I JUST WANT TO DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY.
JUST THANKFUL THAT FOR MY FAMILY AND MY WIFE AND MY SON, AND ALSO FOR MY SAVIOR, THAT THROUGH HIM THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS.
AND MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER ALL THROUGH COLLEGE AND EVEN MY TOUR AT WEST POINT FOR A WHILE, MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER, THEY SACRIFICED A LOT FOR ME.
COMING UP TO THAT TIME, MY MOTHER WOULD TRAVEL A HUNDRED MILES TO BRING STUFF TO ME THAT I NEEDED.
AND THEN EVEN ON ACTIVE DUTY DURING THE FIRST IRAQI WAR, WHEN THERE WERE THREATS ON HER LIFE AND, AND I HAD TO TRAIN MY WIFE ON HOW TO CHECK HER CAR.
UH, MY MOTHER AND FATHER ALSO SENT US, UH, GIFTS AND MADE SURE,
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YOU KNOW, THEY SENT US PACKAGES.AND I'M JUST THANKFUL BECAUSE, UH, MY FAMILY STUCK BY ME.
AND, UM, AND ALSO FROM THE TRAINING THAT I RECEIVED FROM NGIT, I WAS ALSO BLESSED BECAUSE OF THE TEACHERS THAT I HAD REALLY PUT A LOT OF ENERGY AND TIME INTO ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY USE WHAT I GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE FOR IN JIT.
SO I'M JUST THANKFUL BECAUSE, UH, I, EXCEPT WITH MY FAMILY AND EVERYONE ELSE, UH, THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE UPON OVER THIS WAY.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN ROUNDTREE FROM THE CITY OF NEWARK.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO COMMISSIONER GILL.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, JOSHUA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES, AND GOOD EVENING.
UM, UH, MY NAME AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER COOPER IS, UH, AT LARGE COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
UM, UH, AND THANK YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT FOR, UH, CARRYING ON THIS TRADITION.
UH, FOR OUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TO JOIN US IN THIS VERY, VERY, UM, IMPORTANT CEREMONY.
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE MY FRIEND COUNCILWOMAN ROUNTREE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
PLEASURE TO ALWAYS TO BE WITH YOU.
UM, AND BEFORE WE, UM, BRING UP, UH, OUR NEXT, UH, HONOREE, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, UH, TO OF COURSE THANK OUR VETERANS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, BUT ALSO, UM, TO MAYBE LEAVE US WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A, A CHARGE.
UM, BECAUSE CEREMONIES LIKE THIS TO ME ARE CRITICALLY, UH, IMPORTANT.
HOWEVER, UH, TONIGHT TOO MANY OF OUR VETERANS WILL SLEEP ON THE STREET.
TOO MANY OF OUR VETERANS, UM, REMAIN, UH, IN SEARCH OF ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT AND ADEQUATE HOUSING AND ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE.
UM, SO, UH, WHILE, UM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WE HONOR TONIGHT, I BELIEVE IF THAT WE REALLY MR. PRESIDENT WANNA HONOR THEM, THAT WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO MAKING SURE THAT NO VETERAN SLEEPS ON THE STREET.
NO VETERAN GOES WITHOUT A HOME AND ADEQUATE JOB IF THEY ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO WORK.
UH, AND WE NEED TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WORDS WITHOUT ACTION IS JUST A BUNCH OF WORDS,
SO WITH THAT THOUGH, UM, I WANT TO BRING UP, AND IT'S REALLY MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR SECOND HONOREE, UM, OF HAILING FROM, UH, MY LOCAL COMMUNITY OF MONTCLAIR.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING VINCENT R DEMING TO THE PODIUM.
SO ALLOW ME TO PLEASE, UH, SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COMMENDATION, UH, FOR MR. DEMMING.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL, NOW KNOWN OF COURSE, AS MALCOLM X SHABAZZ IN 1963, VICTOR DEMING ENLISTED IN THE US MARINE CORPS, WHERE HE COMPLETED A FOUR YEAR TERM OF DUTY THAT INCLUDED 13 MONTHS IN VIETNAM.
FOLLOW, WE CAN GIVE THAT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SURE.
FOLLOWING THE MARINE CORPS, MR. DEMMING ATTENDED MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY AND GRADUATED.
DO YOU WANT ME TO, DO YOU WANT ME TO, DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY THE YEAR? YES.
LATER HE RECEIVED AN MBA FROM FAIRLEY DICKINSON UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATES FROM KANE AND ST.
AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CORPORATE CAREER WITH THE WAKEFERN FOOD CORPORATION,
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JOHNSON AND JOHNSON AND GENERAL MILLS FASHION GROUP, IZOD, MR. DEMING BECAME THE COMPTROLLER FOR THE EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WAS LATER PROMOTED TO SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND BOARD SECRETARY.IN 1989, MR. DEMING WAS APPOINTED A STATE SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND BOARD SECRETARY.
IN 1993, HE WAS APPOINTED AS ACTING STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR JERSEY CITY.
HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND BOARD SECRETARY FOR THE IRVINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND BOARD SECRETARY FOR THE PLAINFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, HE RETIRED AS THE SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AND BOARD SECRETARY FOR THE EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MR. DEMMING IS A PROUD MEMBER OF TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN MONTCLAIR, WHERE HE'S THE MODERATOR OF THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE, CO-CHAIR OF THE STUDENT AID COMMITTEE, MEMBER OF THE TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN MEN'S, UH, PRES, EXCUSE ME, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN MEN'S CLUB, THE SENIOR CHOIR, THE MEN'S CHOIR AND MODERATOR OF THE ANNUAL MEN WHO COOK EVENT, WHICH IS A GREAT EVENT AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE
ALSO, IN HIS SPARE TIME,
HE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION LEGION CRAWFORD CRUISE POST 2 51.
AND ENCOURAGE, UM, ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF THE CRAWFORD CRUISE POST.
A LOT OF HISTORY THERE THAT, UM, SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, HONORED AND RESPECTED.
HE PERFORMS WITH THE SOUTH SIDE ALUMNI CHORUS AND THE SOLID ROCK AND SYMBOL CHORUS.
UH, WE ARE PROUD, UM, MR. DEMMING TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU ARE A TREASURER, NOT ONLY TO OUR COMMUNITY IN MONTCLAIR, BUT TO THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND OUR COUNTRY.
SO I PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S, COMMENDATION, PLAQUE, AND METAL.
UH, SHOULD WE TAKE A, OKAY, SO WE'LL ASK YOU AND, UM, MR. DEMMING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND, AND, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'VE, I AM, UM, UH, PROUD TO ALSO SAY THAT, UM, I KNOW MANY MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.
I KNOW YOU'RE JOINED BY YOUR WIFE HERE, UM, TONIGHT, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO, UM, OUR VIETNAM VETERANS WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, AT TIME WHEN MANY OF THEM CAME HOME DID NOT RECEIVE, UH, IN MY OPINION, THE PROPER WELCOME, UM, FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.
SO, UM, WE ARE, UH, DOUBLY AND HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE DURING THAT TIME.
SO CONGRATULATIONS MR. DUNNEY, SOUTH SIDE BULLDOGS,
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BRENDAN GILL.
HE WAS THE PERSON WHO PUT MY NAME UP AS AN HONOREE AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHERE HE'S COMING FROM.
LET ME JUST BRIEFLY SAY A FEW WORDS.
I JOINED THE MARINE CORPS 1963, RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL 'CAUSE THEY WERE IN THE, THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTIONS IN RETROSPECT.
IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO SET GOALS IN SPITE OF ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS I WENT THROUGH THOSE THINGS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE ONCE I CAME OUT IN THE MARINE CORPS, I WENT, MY LIFELONG OBJECTIVES AND GOALS WAS TO GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I DID.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS THAT ALONG THE WAY, AND IT STILL EXISTS TODAY, MANY PEOPLE I CAME IN CONTACT WITH TO INCLUDE MY FRIENDS, DECIDED THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HANG OUT WITH ME 'CAUSE I WASN'T GOING THE WAY THAT THEY WANTED TO GO, FOLKS, THAT'S STILL TRUE TODAY.
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SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST FOCUS ON IS THREE THINGS.THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE, NOT THE MARINE, BUT THE, UH, MILITARY OFFICE.
YOUNG STUDENTS LEARN THE CONSTITUTION GETS CIVICS ONCE A YOUNG PERSON DECIDE THAT HE WANTS TO TRY OUT FOR THE ORATORICAL.
HE'S PROVIDED WITH GUIDANCE, HE'S PROVIDED WITH A PAMPHLET AND VARIOUS VERY THINGS.
YOU COMPETE FIRST LOCALLY, THEN YOU GO TO A, UH, COUNTYWIDE PRESENTATION.
AND THIS IS ALL DONE AT MILITARY IN INSTALLATIONS.
THEN YOU GO TO THE STATE AND IF YOU WIN THE STATE, GUESS WHAT? $2,000.
THEN THERE IS A NATIONAL AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND NATIONAL OR TORICAL AT THE END OF THE EVENT, THE FIRST PLACE PERSON WINS A $25,000 SCHOLARSHIP, SECOND $22,500 SCHOLARSHIP.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF IN YOUR COMMUNITY THERE ARE MILITARY POSTS, OKAY, YOU NEED TO FIND OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION.
THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED BOYS STATE.
BOYS STATE IS REALLY A GREAT, IT'S BEEN IN NEW JERSEY SINCE 1949, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
AND YOU HAVE OVER A THOUSAND YOUNGSTERS FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE WHO GOES, WHO WILL GO TO RYDER COLLEGE ONE WEEK IN, UH, JUNE.
AND THEY LEARN ALL ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND SO FORTH.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S POPULAR.
THE MILITARY SUPPORTS THAT, AND WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE YOU, YOUR YOUNGSTERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, UM, GET INVOLVED.
AND THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, A BRENDAN GILL TALKED ABOUT THE HOMELESS.
WE POST 2 51, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS PROCESS.
NOT ONLY ARE WE RAISING MONEY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING HOUSE WHERE WE STAY AND WE'RE GOING TO RESURRECT A NEW STRUCTURE TO INCLUDE TWO OR THREE STORIES.
UH, WE WILL HAVE, UH, HOUSING FOR VETERANS THAT YOU FIND ON THE STREET.
AND, UH, IN MY MIND'S EYE, THAT'S WHERE IT'S ALL HEADED.
AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE, FOR, FOR MR. DIAMOND.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A MUSICAL SELECTION FROM OUR ESTEEMED PERFORMER.
YOU HEARD HER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
AND NOW WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME HER BACK TO SHARE MORE OF HER MUSICAL TALENTS.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'D LIKE TO, TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND AS WELL.
UM, GABRIELA BOOMER IS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED, UH, SOPRANO WHO STUDIED VOICE WITH THE VA, WITH VALERIE BERNHARDT.
IN 2017, SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR OF MUSIC AND EDUCATION FROM THE JOHN J CLEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.
AND IN 2018, SHE RECEIVED HER MASTER'S OF ARTS IN TEACHING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ALSO AT MONTCLAIR STATE.
OVER THE YEARS, SHE HAS PERFORMED WITH THE MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY COR, UH, CHORUS, THE UNIVERSITY SINGERS, UH, PRI OF, UM, EXCUSE ME, UH, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
UH, SHE HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE RICHARD ALSTRIN DANCE COMPANY AND HAS PERFORMED IN CARNEGIE HALL TWICE.
IN 2017, SHE MADE HER INTERNATIONAL SOLO DEBUT IN ROME AND FLORENCE.
SHE IS CURRENTLY A GENERAL MUSIC CHORUS AND MUSICAL THEATER TEACHER AT HARDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN KENNELWORTH.
IT'S OUTSIDE OF ESSEX COUNTY, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S OKAY.
YOU CAN SEE HER COMPLETE IMPRESSIVE BIO IN OUR PROGRAM.
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WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HER BACK TO THE PODIUM FOR ANOTHER AUDITION.I LOVE STAND BESIDE AND THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH LIGHT FROM ABOVE, FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE, TO THE, MY HOME SWEET HOME LAND THAT I LOVE.
STAND BESIDE AND GUIDE THROUGH THE NIGHT FROM THE MOUNTAIN, THE TO THE OCEANS WITH MARICK MYRICK.
LET'S GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR FINAL HONOREE TONIGHT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING LAWRENCE LARRY.
ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, UH, FROM THE ACCOMMODATION.
LARRY, UH, LAWRENCE, SILLY KNOWN AS LARRY, THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WAS BORN IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
HE IS THE ELDEST SON OF MADELINE WHITE
IN 1973, MR. ILIAN ENROLLED IN THE US NAVY, WHERE HE SERVED FOR SIX YEARS.
HE WAS AN E FIVE BOILER TECHNICIAN.
AFTER HIS SERVICE IN THE NAVY, LARRY SEALEY WORKED IN THE VETERANS READJUSTMENT PROGRAM FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN JOINED PICKIN ARSENAL WHERE HE WORKED FOR 27 YEARS.
AND HE WAS THE FIRST AND THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPERVISOR IN THE HISTORY OF PICKIN ARSENAL.
MR. SEALE CURRENTLY WORKS AS AN ARMED SECURITY GUARD AT APPLEBEE'S, SUPERVISORS, THE SECURITY DETAIL AT CITY PLEX THEATER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
HE'S THE PROUD FATHER OF SIX CHILDREN WHO RESIDE IN NEWARK WORKING AND HE ALSO WORKS PART-TIME AS A CONSTABLE.
HE IS THIS MAN RETIRED AND IS WORKING MORE THAN WHEN HE WAS WORKING
ALRIGHT,
SECRETS JUST FOUND OUT MYSELF.
SO, LARRY, SO, SO UNDERSTAND LARRY, RIGHT? I'VE KNOWN LARRY FOR ABOUT 55 YEARS, RIGHT? SO HE'S A CHILDHOOD FRIEND.
YOU A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME, BUT YOUR HEAD, YOU CAN'T TELL
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OTHER FRIENDS WHO I GREW UP WITH IN THE BACK.I'M GLAD, HAPPY TO SEE Y'ALL HERE.
AND THOSE ARE FRIENDS WHO I'VE KNOWN OVER 50 PLUS YEARS, SHOWED UP AND LOIE AS WELL OVER 50 YEARS.
SO THESE ARE FOLKS WE GREW UP WITH, FOLKS WE KNOW VERY WELL.
YOU KNOW, LARRY HAD A LOT OF NICKNAMES WHEN HE USED TO BOX IN THE NAVY.
TELL HIM WHY THAT YEAH,
I'M GONNA TELL YOU YOUR NICKNAMES TOO.
JUST LIKE MY MOTHER SAY, YOU GOT NICKNAMES TOO.
SEE THAT? I SHOULD'VE GOT 'EM STARTED.
SHOULDN'T HAVE CALLED, BUT THANKS AGAIN.
UH, UH, LET'S GIVE, UH, UH, PLEASE, PLEASE SAY, PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS.
WELL, FIRST I WANT THANK THE COMMISSIONER WAYNE.
I DON'T WANNA SAY HIS NICKNAME, BUT WAYNE RICHARDSON, A LONG TIME FRIEND.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME HEALTH ISSUES FOR YEARS, BUT GOD IS GOOD.
I'M STILL HERE, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE COUNTING ME OUT A LONG TIME AGO, YOU KNOW, THEY WROTE ME OFF, BUT I DIDN'T WRITE BACK
SHE'S BEEN WITH ME THROUGH THICK AND THIN.
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM THE NAVY, UH, SHE SURPRISED ME.
I LOOKED OVER AND THERE SHE WAS IN A SAILOR SUIT AND WE CHILLED.
AND THEN WE WENT TO THE PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE.
AND UH, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG, BUT SHE GOT MY BACK NO MATTER WHAT.
WE DON'T, WHEN I SAY DON'T GET ALONG, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE.
BUT, 'CAUSE SHE SPEAKS SOME MIND AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE A TENDENCY TO DO THE SAME.
BUT I WANT TO THANK MY GUEST COMING OUT HERE.
I WANT TO THANK MY BOY JOHN, FRIEND OF THE FAMILY.
HE'S GOOD AT ALL THAT I WANNA THANK, UH, MY FRIEND LOIE RIGHT HERE, DRE, SHE LIKES TO BE CALLED, BUT SHE'S A LONG TIME FRIEND.
OH, MY NEPHEW, SEAN, WE WORKED TOGETHER ALL DAY.
AND HIS WIFE, I KNOW ANETTE DO, MS. ROUNDTREE, THEY ALL HERE.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, I JUST THANK GOD, OH, I ALMOST FORGOT SHE POPPED IN.
'CAUSE WE ALIKE, YOU KNOW, WE BOTH, YOU KNOW, SHE LEARNED HOW TO CLOWN FROM ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS,
BUT, UH, LIKE I SAID, UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU KNOW, UH, EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.
AND, UH, I JOINED THE NAVY WHEN I WAS 18.
I'M NOT GONNA BE LONG, BUT I'M GONNA BE STRONG.
I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
EVERYBODY WAS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR THING ON THE STREETS OF NEWARK AND NORTH NEWARK.
I WENT TO BARRINGER, BLUE BEAR, BLUE BEAR THERE.
BUT, UH, AND THERE'S SOME BLUE BEARS RACK THERE.
THERE'S AN INDIAN OVER THERE TOO.
BUT, UH, WHEN I JOINED THE NAVY, I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.
BUT WHEN I GOT IN THERE, I REALIZED THAT THAT WAS FOR ME, I DIDN'T LIKE BOILERS AT FIRST.
'CAUSE THEY SAID, YOU'RE GONNA BE A FIREMAN.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE HAD A DALMATIAN WITH ME AND RIDING THE RED TRUCK
BUT THEY PUT ME IN THE BOILER ROOM.
BUT THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEST THING THAT WAS MY CAREER, YOU KNOW? AND I, I RETIRED, LIKE HE SAID, WHEN I WENT TO PICKIN ARSENAL, I WAS THERE FOR 10 YEARS AND I DIDN'T SEE NOT ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN WHERE I WAS WORKING AT, AT THE POWERHOUSE, BUT I WAS CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I LEARNED IN THE NAVY, I KNEW WHAT THEY KNEW PLUS WHAT I KNEW.
AND I WAS EVEN ASKING THEM QUESTIONS AND I KNEW THE ANSWER AND THEY WAS GIVING ME THE WRONG ANSWER.
BUT I LAID BACK AND THEN WAS, WAS TIME FOR ME TO BECOME A SUPERVISOR.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID IT WASN'T THE FIRST BLACK SUPERVISOR IN PICKIN, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY ONE AT THAT POWERHOUSE.
'CAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ONE.
AND THEN THEY DEMOLISHED IT AND WENT TO, UH, SATELLITE BOILER.
SO THEY NEVER HAD ANOTHER ONE.
BUT, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HELPED TO RAISE MY KIDS, MY SIX KIDS.
AND ALL OF THEM GOT EDUCATIONS, COLLEGE EDUCATION.
AND I'M PROUD THAT I WAS ABLE TO BUY MY OWN HOUSE AND JUST RAISE MY FAMILY.
BUT, UH, AND THEN I WANTED TO BECOME A CONSTABLE.
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO, BUT I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THIS MAN HERE.
I AIN'T TRYING TO BLOW HIM UP, PUT ON NO SCHEDULE.
BUT HE NEVER FORGOT HIS FRIENDS, YOU KNOW? AND HE WASN'T PERFECT EITHER NOW, BUT I AIN'T GONNA GO THROUGH THAT
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE ONLY THING ABOUT HIM, WE LOVE HIM AND HE'S NORMAL.
HE'S DOWN TO EARTH UNTIL HE PUT ON A SUIT.
WHEN HE PUT ON A SUIT, WE WATCH HIM.
'CAUSE HE DIFFERENT THEN, BUT HE BUSINESS, THAT'S GOOD.
HE NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM.
THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANNA SAY.
BUT, UH, I COULD BE UP HERE A LITTLE LONGER, BUT I, I SAID I WASN'T GONNA BE LONG.
AND PLUS YOU GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE.
BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FROM COMING OUT TONIGHT AND SHOWING SOME LOVE AND RESPECT AND TO ALL THE HONOREES ESPECIALLY.
[00:35:02]
SHOW YOU MY BROTHER.I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HATE ME.
UH, THANKS FOR PUTTING ME IN THIS POSITION, EVERYONE.
LISTEN, UH, THIS, THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE JOB, I THINK, FOR ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AS WE GET TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE TALENTS OF OTHERS.
SO, GOOD EVENING, UH, I'M COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS POMAR, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING THIS PROGRAM TO A CLOSE.
AND, UH, BEFORE WE DO, BRING IT TO A CLOSE, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME TO THANK NOT ONLY THE VETERANS HERE, BUT THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AS, UH, BRENDAN SO VERY ELOQUENTLY SAID BEFORE.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM HAVE VERY, UH, DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AND MANY OTHERS JUST GO UNDER THE RADAR.
THEY GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ATTENTION.
I, I KNOW I HAVE QUITE A FEW FRIENDS WHO ARE LIKE THAT AS WELL.
AND SO IT'S REALLY INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO SO.
UM, THEY ARE REALLY OUR NATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THEY'RE BUILT ON THE BACKS OF OUR ORDINARY AMERICANS WHO ARE, HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS AND MADE EXTRAORDINARY SACRIFICES.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AND FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE, UH, AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME WITH US TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS.
UH, THANK YOU TO ALL OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES, JOSHUA L. DAVIS II, UH, THE US AIR FORCE, VICTOR R DEMING OF THE US MARINES, AND, UH, LAWRENCE SEALEY OF THE US NAVY.
UH, WE WANNA ALSO THANK, UH, BISHOP CHARLES MITCHELL FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE OPENING PRAYER.
AND FOR GABRIELA FOR THAT LOVELY VOICE THAT WE HEARD A COUPLE OF TIMES TODAY.
A SPECIAL TREAT AT THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME DOWN WHERE WE HAVE SOME FOOD AND PERHAPS A SECOND ACT OF LARRY'S ACT TODAY,
UM, I HAVE A FEELING HE IS GONNA DIG INTO WAYNE A. LITTLE BIT FURTHER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT, BUT OUR, UM, OUR PRESIDENT IS, UH, FLAWLESS.
HE'S PERFECT AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
SEE, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS, BUT I KNOW I'M LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW I LIKE THIS GUY AND HE'S MY, HE'S MY PRESIDENT.
SO, SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME DOWN TO THE ROOM AND, UH, SHARE SOME, UH, FOOD WITH US AND, AND HANG OUT A LITTLE BIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO BE VERY INFORMAL.
UM, WE ALSO WANNA ASK THE HONOREES AND YOUR FAMILIES JUST STAY HERE FOR A MOMENT.
THERE'S NO NEED TO RUSH ON THERE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PICTURES.
OUR, OUR GUY HERE WITH THE BIG LENS AND THE NEW BATTERY, HE IS GONNA TAKE
I COULD, I COULD ALMOST OPEN UP FOR YOU ACTUALLY, I THINK, UH, IS YOUR ACT.
IT'S GONNA MAKE US ALL LOOK GOOD.
AND YOU CAN ALL TAKE YOUR PICTURES TOO, DON'T WORRY.
LET HIM, LET THE GUY WITH THE BIG CAMERA TAKE HIS PICTURES FIRST AND THEN FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, CHIME IN AND WE'LL, WE'LL DO WITH ANY, ALL THE HONOREES WITH THE BOARD AND HOWEVER YOU LIKE IT.
SO AS WE DRAW THIS PROGRAM TO A CLOSE, LET ME ASK, UH, BISHOP MITCHELL TO COME, UH, FORWARD ONE MORE TIME TO OFFER OUR CLOSING PRAYER AND TO BLESSED OF FOOD.
LET US BOW HEADS FOR WORD OF PRAYER.
THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR HONOREES WHO HAVE REPRESENTED THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF OUR ARMED FORCES OF THIS NATION.
WE PRAY, LORD, PROTECTION FOR THEM AND BLESSINGS UPON THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE COME FAR AND NEAR.
NOW, LORD, WE ALSO LIFT OF OTHER NAMES WHO WERE NOT LIFTED UP TODAY, BUT YOU KNOW THOSE NAMES
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WHEREVER THEY ARE.LORD, HERE IN HERE IN AMERICA, THOSE WHO ARE EVEN OVERSEAS, AND THEY'RE THOSE THAT ARE EVEN ON THE STREET, LORD, WHO ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
LET SOME HEART OPEN UP THEIR HEART AND THEIR HAND AND THEIR HOME TO THEM.
MEET EVERY NEED ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.
BLESS AND KEEP US, PROTECT US, LEAD US AND GUIDE US.
AND WE ALSO PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE FOOD THAT WAS PREPARED FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF OUR BODIES.
BLESSED SANCTIFY, PURIFY IT, AND WE ASK IT ALL IN YOUR NAME AND WATCH OVER US WHILE WE'RE TOGETHER.
AND WATCH OVER THIS GREAT COUNTY, THIS GREAT STATE, AND THIS GREAT NATION.
WE ASK IT ALL IN YOUR NAME, WE DO PRAY.