75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA (VIDEO)…Thank a Veteran Today for their Service

SOURCE:

The American Legion Burn Pit

First, from Yahoo News:

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting of World War Two take place on a small Japanese island 1,200 km (745 miles) south of Tokyo.

Iwo Jima was the first native Japanese soil to be invaded during the Allied advance. Located halfway between Tokyo and Guam, it was regarded as a strategic outpost. Close to 7,000 U.S. Marines and nearly all of the 21,000 Japanese defenders of the island died during the 36-day battle.

The Japanese troops held the heavily fortified island for more than a month, supported by a network of bunkers and tunnels and hidden artillery positions.

From Feb. 19, 1945, over 500 warships and 1,000 warplanes from the U.S. navy and army pounded Iwo Jima so heavily that the shelling and bombing changed the shape of the island\’s highest point, Mount Suribachi, located at its southern tip.

The Washington Post has a story on Woody Williams

, who as you know is one of my favorite people:

The Japanese soldiers came out of their concrete “pill box” with bayonets fixed, determined to get the Marine who had been killing them all afternoon with a flamethrower.

Their target was Hershel Williams. He was 5-foot-6, the youngest of the 11 children of a dairy farmer from Quiet Dell, W.Va. He had a nice smile, and a girl back home named Ruby whom he planned to marry when the war was over.

He was 21, and known as “Woody.”

But 75 years ago this month, on a Godforsaken volcanic island in the Pacific called Iwo Jima, he was a terrifying destroyer of the Japanese, incinerating men in their hideouts with jets of blazing diesel fuel and high octane gasoline.

They had to stop him.

Not to ruin the ending, but yeah, they didn\’t stop him.

CONTINUE TO READ

Coming This Sunday, March 1, Saint Mary\’s Parish/Gloucester City Irish Parade

Monsignor Bill Hodge performing the Mummers Strut in front of St. Mary\’s Church, 426 Monmouth Street.

(2018 photo by Gus Danks)

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ –Monsignor William Hodge, Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Gloucester City, along with Charlie Kain, President of the New Jersey Irish Society, and Mayor Dan Spencer remind residents that the Fifth Annual St. Mary Parish St. Patrick’s Parade will be held this coming Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 PM sharp.

THERE IS NO RAIN/SNOW DATE.

Registration is now open for all organizations, clubs, Irish groups, dancers, churches, businesses, and all who would like to march and participate in this festive parade and day of events. We welcome all towns and groups from all over the Delaware Valley to participate, so spread the word! Registration forms are available at the St. Mary Rectory office from 9-3 pm, Monday to Friday or by calling 856.456.0052. The registration fee is $25.

The parade will take the same route as last year, forming and staging at the Martin’s Lake area, marching on Johnson Blvd. to Monmouth Street, up Monmouth Street to King, and dispersing at the former Coast Guard Base parking lot.

The parade includes the award-winning Champions of the 2020 Mummers Parade the South Philadelphia String Band along with their First Prize Champion Captain Denny Palandro. Also the Quaker City, Fralinger, Woodland, Avalon, Duffy, Durning String Bands, along with the Gloucester City String Band. Pipes and Drum Bands include the Camden County Emerald Society, the Second Street Emerald Society, and the Atlantic City Sandpipers Band. The Broken Shillelaghs, The Misty Dewers, Irish Dance Groups, and don’t forget the Two Street Stompers and many, many more…………

Fox29 TV News Celebrity Grand Marshall Bob Kelly will be here to march in the parade and do some MC duties and participate in some Irish shenanigans! Look for a JAMO with Bob Kelly.

Ed Beckett, a longtime educator, and Principal at Gloucester Catholic High School is this year’s Grand Marshall of our parade. Congratulations Ed and well deserved. We look forward to a big showing from the Gloucester Catholic Family and Alumni marching with Mr. Beckett in the parade.

Gloucester City’s own radio disc jockey Kathy Townsend Suckiel from the B101.1 radio station will be here along with the B101 mascot; Buzzbee!

The parade is the brainchild of Monsignor Bill Hodge (photo above) with Grand Marshal Bishop Dennis Sullivan at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2016. The Monsignor and Bishop are looking forward to seeing everyone again this year along the parade route. (image courtesy of South Jersey Observer)

For further information please contact Dan Spencer at 856.456.0052

The Perfect Combo –

Gloucester City Irish Parade 2018 Photo Album

published Gloucestercitynews.net

I-295 southbound/Al-Jo’s Curve to Route 42 southbound/ Closed Tonight and Saturday

Signed detour will be in place overnight

(Trenton)

– New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced an overnight closure of the I-295 southbound ramp to Route 42 southbound and I-295 southbound as the Direct Connection project advances in Bellmawr, Camden County.

Beginning at 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, February 21, until 8 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, NJDOT’s contractor, South State, Inc., will close the I-295 southbound ramp to Route 42 southbound and I-295 southbound, also known as Al-Jo’s Curve, to replace damaged construction barrier. All motorists traveling on I-295 southbound will be directed to stay left onto Exit 26. The following detour will be in place overnight:

I-295 southbound to Route 42 southbound/I-295 southbound detour:

Motorists traveling on I-295 southbound to Route 42 southbound will be directed to exit left at Exit 26/I-76 westbound

Take I-76 westbound to Exit 2/I-676 northbound

Take I-676 northbound to Exit 1/Collings Avenue

Turn right onto Collings Avenue

Turn left onto I-676 southbound which becomes I-76 eastbound

Take I-76 eastbound to Exit 1A/I-295 southbound

The work is part of the $900 million Direct Connection project that will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists traveling through the interchange of I-295, I-76, and Route 42. The Direct Connection project has been divided into four separate construction contracts, with completion of the fourth and final contract expected in the fall of 2024. NJDOT\’s project website provides

construction activity schedules and updates

Portable variable message signs are being utilized to provide advance notification to the public of all traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website

www.511nj.org

for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter

@NJDOT_info

LOST DOG, ANSWERS TO ASH, REWARD

ASH

Terrier Mix with collar and tags

Grey body and black head and ears

Call

856-905-8879

The police in Gloucester City or Brooklawn

Low-Life Hoodlums Throw Fireworks at Home of 94-Year-Old Brooklawn Resident

Fireworks explode in front of Yvonne Spadora\’s home in the 100 unit block of Chestnut Street, Brooklawn. According to police the fireworks were thrown from two moving vehicles. (image courtesy of

FoxNews29)

by CNBNews Staff

BROOKLAWN, NJ–(February 19, 2020)–Long-time Brooklawn resident

Yvonne

Spadora was the victim of mean spirited hoodlums, according to

FoxNews 29 report

Surveillance video (see below) shows two explosions outside of Mrs. Spadora around 10PM Saturday, February 15. The 94-year-old woman, who was asleep at the time of the incident, has lived in her Brooklawn

residence

since 1957.

According to police, the fireworks were thrown from two moving cars.

Brooklawn police said the explosions started a fire in a bush outside of Spadora\’s home. Police woke up Spadora as a neighbor used a hose to put out the fire.

“After I knocked on the door, it was hard for her to even get to the door, so if the house caught on fire God forbid anything could have happened to her. We were just seconds away from a catastrophe,\” Brooklawn Police investigator Raymond McKenney said.

Police said they think one of the cars is a dark color Dodge Charger. Police don\’t believe Spadora was targeted.

If you have any information, please contact investigator Mckenney at 856-456-0750, ext. 171 or email rmckenney@brooklawnpolice.com Tips may also be submitted anonymously at 856-456-0750, ext. 180 or via email at tips@brooklawnpolice.com.

TO VIEW SECOND VIDEO CLICK HERE

Dear Parents and Friends of Gloucester Catholic:

Your Voice Matters to the Future of Catholic Schools!

Attached please find the first two ACTION ALERTS for the Governor\’s 2020-2021 state budget. The nonpublic school community has two major \”ASKS\” this budget season.

They are:

1. To increase the per pupil allotment for Compensatory Ed (Chapter 192) from $995.00 per service to $1100.00 per service. This allotment has not been increased in over 10 years.

2. To increase the per pupil allotment for transportation/aid in lieu from $1000.00 to $1050.00. Although the increase to $1000 two years ago was a big help, there are still many students not receiving transportation because the bus companies are not bidding on certain routes.

Our task now is to contact Governor Murphy and ask him to include these increases in his budget. There is not a lot of time to do this, because the Governor\’s budget will be released on February 25th, which is a week earlier than usual.

The Diocese has asked that we use the Voter Voice system as directed in the attachments (see links below). We are counting on the entire Catholic school community, not just those who have students in the Comp Ed program or have students who receive bus transportation, to support this effort. The advantage of using the Voter Voice is in the large number of communications it can generate with a very minimal investment of time on the part of the sender.

So once again, the budget process has begun, and we need the cooperation of everyone in the Catholic school community to advocate on behalf of the students in our schools.

Thanks for your timely response to this request!

Ed Beckett

Principal

For Additional Information on How to Help, click on the links below:

Action Alert Nonpublic School Transportation

Action Alert Chapter 192

Long-Time Gloucester City Resident and Vietnam War Veteran Needs Our Help

By CNBNews Staff

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 11, 2020)(CNBNewsnet)

—Bob Kotter, who was born and raised in Gloucester City, needs some help from his friends and residents of the community. Bob is battling stage 4 prostate cancer. A U.S. Marine, Bob fought in the Vietnam War. He believes his cancer was caused by Agent Orange which was dropped on the jungles of Vietnam by U.S. planes and helicopters to kill the heavy vegetation.

Bob Kotter (2018 CNBNews photo)

Recently his chemotherapy was increased to four times a week as cancer has spread to his bones.

For a decade or more Bob lived in the family home in the 400 block of Market Street taking care of his elderly parents. He cooked their meals, kept them and the house cleaned, and made sure they got to the doctors and received their medications. After his mother died the house was sold and he was left without a roof over his head.

\”A community activist,

I first met Bob in 2006-07 when he was trying to get the City of Gloucester City to clean up their parking lot at Fifth and Powell Street,\” said Bill Cleary Sr., editor of CNBNews. \”The lot was being used by junkies to shoot up. Empty needles and glassine bags were thrown around the lot in plain view. It was also an eyesore as a result of the trash and broken down cars on the lot.\”

From the 2007 article:

The city property was once the site of the Quaker Food store and the former Sand Bar. The City tore down the properties in the 1980s, paved it with asphalt, and put up an 8-foot high cyclone fence.

Kotter said during the interview,“that was the last time we saw the City. The fence has been decaying for the past several years. People used the vacant property to store their unlicensed vehicles and for changing the oil in their cars.”

Gloucester City Public Parking Lot is an Eyesore & \”Drug Den\”

In 2016 Bob fought against the terrible odor that was coming from the Blueknight Energy Partners asphalt plant on Water Street, home to eight million barrels of asphalt. Kotter told the Philadelphia Inquirer, \”Sometimes the fumes burn your eyes,\” he said. \”My elderly parents who lived four blocks from the plant have been putting up with it for years. But nobody does anything about it even though I have complained to numerous environmental agencies.\”

Gloucester City Residents are Fuming Over Fumes

Bob loved to walk through the city. He wore a wide brim light green hat with a US Marine emblem. You could tell by his walk he was military. He would start from his parent\’s home on Market Street head west to the riverfront and cover the entire city ending back at Market and Powell Streets. When he saw that the old GAF power plant was being demolished he was concerned that the property wasn\’t properly sealed, and, was worried the asbestos inside would spread to the nearby residential neighborhood.

\”As a result of his tip, we discovered some interesting history about the GAF power plant that we and the public would never have known if it wasn\’t for him,\” said Cleary.

Demolition Work on the 111-Year-Old GAF Power Plant

He loved Gloucester City and it upset him to see what was happening to certain neighborhoods in the community. He was quick to point out faults in the hopes by doing so improvements would be made. Take for example in 2018 when he wrote a letter to CNBNews about the condition of the entrance to the city on South Broadway, along with the pot holes on Jersey Avenue, two main highways coming in and out of the city.

\”I have attached some photos showing the deplorable road conditions on South Broadway when you enter Gloucester City from Brooklawn and the pot holes on Jersey Avenue from South Broadway to King Street,\” said Kotter.

\”These streets are so bad that if you hit some of the bumps doing the speed limit it will throw you right out of your vehicle\’s seat. I can\’t imagine what it does to the front end of your car/truck. Year in and year out these conditions have been allowed to exist. It is a disgrace. I give the person a thumbs up for the nice job he/she did in painting the new yellow lines on the street. However, painting dividing lines in the street before you repair the potholes is just plain stupid. \”

Deplorable Streets Need to be Repaired

\”Bob\’s heart was always in the right place\”, said Cleary.

\”He had no ulterior motive. He wasn\’t running for any political office. Nor did he have an ax to grind. If he saw something wrong he tried his best to fix it because of his love for Gloucester City. Please keep him in your prayers as he needs our help now both spiritually and financially.\”

Send your check to Runnemede VFW,

℅ Tim Salamatin, 13 East Sixth Street, Runnemede, NJ 08087. Make the check payable to Bob Kotter.

You can also send a Get Well card to Bob at the same address.

(published Feb. 11, 2020) https://www.gloucestercitynews.net

)

Brooklawn 7/8 Boys Continue Winning

Gloucester High School

Gloucester Catholic

https://darrowphotos.com

BROOKLAWN, NJ–The Brooklawn School Boys Basketball improved to 10-1 after beating visiting Merchantville. The pre-game was exciting as the 8th grade players were honored by parents, Coach\’s Austin Darrow and Chris Rodriguez in their last home game.

The Brooklawn Bears look to finish the regular season strong before heading into the Camden County Basketball Elementary School League.

More Photo\’s available for viewing at www.Darrowphotos.com

Photo\’s Courtesy of Bruce Darrow

Pictured below Coach\’s Chris Rodriguez and Austin Darrow

Pictured below Aidan Mc Clintock

Pictured below Jason Flynn

Pictured below Coach Chris Rodriguez presents Kaden Elmore

Gloucester High School

Gloucester Catholic

https://darrowphotos.com

Judy Lee Connelly, of Brooklawn, age 74

Judy Lee Connelly

Judy Lee Connelly (Hopkins), 74 of Brooklawn, NJ passed away peacefully on February 2, 2020, with her loving family surrounding her. Judy was the beloved wife of Daniel Connelly and beloved mother of their children, Randy (Patti), Christopher (Linda), Lisa (Jack), Eric (Andrea), Jennifer (John), and Daniel (Lynn). She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Adam, Ryan, Alex, Josh, Brittany, Christopher, Sydney, Paige, Elizabeth, Michael, Mackenzie, Jenna, Carly, Emma, and Adriana, and 8 great grandchildren, her brother Curtis, her sister Terry, and many nieces and nephews. Her nieces Paulette, Dawn and Tracy held a special place in her heart. Judy was predeceased by her parents James and Marjorie Hopkins, sister Karen Fisher, brother Lynn Hopkins and her grandson, Eric, Jr.

Judy worked at Package Materials in Haddonfield, NJ for 35 years. Judy dedicated most of her life to her family as they were her pride and joy. Everything was about family! She had a beautiful heart and always loved above and beyond. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were always the apple of her eye. Judy took such good care of everyone and if anyone needed or wanted anything she was always ready to help.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Thursday evening, February 6

, from 6 to 8 PM and again on Friday Morning, February 7

, from 10 to 11 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Funeral Service 11 AM in the funeral home. Interment will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Please memo, Judy Lee Connelly.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Judy Lee Connelly. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN–HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City Ph:856-456-1142

Medal of Honor Recipient Faces Cancer

MOTHAX

The American Legion Burn Pit

Just a very special article today I saw in Military.com that I wanted to share:

Sgt. Ronald Shurer is now fighting on different terrain than the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan, and against a different enemy than the battle-hardened insurgents of that remote region.

Sgt. Ronald Shurer

Fifteen months after he stood at the White House to

receive the nation\’s highest combat honor

, he\’s squaring off in an all-consuming battle against life-threatening lung cancer that his doctors rate at stage 4, meaning it has metastasized or spread to other organs.

\”It\’s everywhere,\” Shurer, 41, said in a lengthy Jan. 22 interview at the coffee shop.

More than once, Shurer said he was prepared to comment on everything about the stage 4 cancer except his prognosis. Statistics from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society point to five-year survival rates of less than 20%, although those numbers come with the caution that they may not reflect recent advances in treatment.

It is a very long piece, but every bit of it is spectacular.

If you missed the story of Shurer\’s earlier heroics, the Army has a good video up:

His citation:

Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Shurer II distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on April 6, 2008, while serving as a Senior Medical Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force-33, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant Shurer was part of an assault element inserted by helicopter into a location in Afghanistan. As the assault element moved up a near vertical mountain toward its objective, it was engaged by fierce enemy machine gun, sniper, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The lead portion of the assault element, which included the ground commander, sustained several casualties and became pinned down on the mountainside. Staff Sergeant Shurer and the rest of the trailing portion of the assault element were likewise engaged by enemy machine gun, sniper, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. As the attack intensified, Staff Sergeant Shurer braved enemy fire to move to an injured Soldier and treat his wounds. Having stabilized the injured Soldier, Staff Sergeant Shurer then learned of the casualties among the lead element. Staff Sergeant Shurer fought his way up the mountainside, under intense enemy fire, to the lead element’s location. Upon reaching the lead element, he treated and stabilized two more Soldiers. Finishing those lifesaving efforts, Staff Sergeant Shurer noticed two additional severely wounded Soldiers under intense enemy fire. The bullet that had wounded one of these Soldiers had also impacted Staff Sergeant Shurer’s helmet. With complete disregard for his own life, Staff Sergeant Shurer again moved through enemy fire to treat and stabilize one Soldier’s severely wounded arm.

Shortly thereafter, Staff Sergeant Shurer continued to brave withering enemy fire to get to the other Soldier’s location in order to treat his lower leg, which had been almost completely severed by a high-caliber sniper round. After treating the Soldier, Staff Sergeant Shurer began to evacuate the wounded; carrying and lowering them down the sheer mountainside. While moving down the mountain, Staff Sergeant Shurer used his own body to shield the wounded from enemy fire and debris caused by danger-close air strikes.

Reaching the base of the mountain, Staff Sergeant Shurer set up a casualty collection point and continued to treat the wounded. With the arrival of the medical evacuation helicopter, Staff Sergeant Shurer, again under enemy fire, helped load the wounded into the helicopter. Having ensured the safety of the wounded, Staff Sergeant Shurer then regained control of his commando squad and rejoined the fight. He continued to lead his troops and emplace security elements until it was time to move to the evacuation landing zone for the helicopter.

Staff Sergeant Shurer’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.

And lastly, another video, from CBS, which frankly I think does the best job with these MOH stories.

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