A veteran’s silence
(L-r) Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq., CEO, Bronx Manhattan North Association of Realtors; Vincent Buccieri, BMNAR
president; the New York Army Reserve, Alpha Company Recruiting and Retention Battalion; and Councilman
Fernando Cabrera. Photo courtesy of Eliezer Rodriguez
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2 40 9-DECEMBER 5, 2019 BTR
(L-r) Miguel Rodriguez; Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq., CEO, Bronx Manhattan
North Association of Realtors; Cristian Rodriguez; and Mike Tierney, representingthe
Bronx Veteran’s Museum. Photo courtesy of Eliezer Rodriguez
BY ELIEZER RODRIGUEZ, ESQ.,
CEO, BRONX MANHATTAN
NORTH ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS
It’s wonderful when an
event comes together and the
end result fi lls your heart joy.
My son, Miguel, has helped me
heal many of my life’s scars.
Several years after my son
started attending P.S. 108, he
asked me to attend a Veteran’s
Day event at his school, P.S.
108. I hid behind my obligations
in court and told him I
was busy that day and could
not attend.
In 2012, my now 10-yearold
son, once again asked me
to attend the Veteran’s Day
event at his school. He told me
“Please Papi, other parents
attend.” I did attend the Veteran’s
Day event and when I
walked into the gym, my son
saw me and smiled. The program
was magnifi cent! For
the fi rst time, I felt proud to be
a veteran albeit, a peace time
veteran.
Later that evening, Miguel
asked me; “Why didn’t you
stand when the principal
asked, Papi?” For the fi rst
time in 30 years, I spoke of my
military experience and answered
all of my son’s questions.
Miguel listened with
great interest.
A week later, my wife, Lisa,
Miguel and his brother, Cristian
and I were attending an
award ceremony in Pittsburg,
PA., hosted by The Black Belt
Hall of Fame. My two boys,
age 12 and 10, are both registered
Black Belts in Tae Kwon
Do. That night, they were going
to receive the 2012 U.S.A.
International Martial Arts
Students of the Year Award.
At the award reception dinner,
the host dedicated the
event to all the veterans. He
then asked “If you served your
country, please stand.” Miguel
noticing that I was not going
to stand, touched my hand and
said “Papi, please stand.” To
appease my son, I stood for the
fi rst time; for his sake. The
thunderous applause that followed
was heart felt and for
the second time, I felt my service
was appreciated.
Miguel was the fi rst person
who told me to stand. Just
when you think kids don’t understand,
they surprise you.
A few months later, Miguel
presented me with a poem
that captured the discussion
we had about my military silence.
He wanted to frame the
poem and present it to the veteran’s
group that visited his
school that day. That presentation
had not happened yet.
In 2013, when I began my
‘tour of duty’ as the new chief
executive offi cer for The Bronx
Manhattan North Association
of Realtors (BMNAR), P.S. 108
invited me to attend their Veteran’s
Day event. I went and
when I was asked to stand, I
stood and introduced myself
as Sergeant Rodriguez. Once
again, the students did a magnifi
cent job paying tribute
to the men and women who
served in our armed forces. I
must confess, I shed a tear or
two. I sent the schoolpPrincipal,
Mr. Sperazza, a thank you
letter for the invitation and to
share with him the infl uence
his Veteran’s Day event had
on my son.
Nearly six years later, on October
15, I received a text message
from Ms. Mack, Miguel’s
gym teacher at P.S. 108, asking
if I would be the guest speaker
at their Veteran’s Day event on
November 8. They requested I
tell Miguel’s story. That same
day, BMNAR’s newly elected
president, Vincent Buccieri
from Today Realty Corp., sent
me a text. The text read: “For
my fi rst act as BMNAR’s 59th
president, I want to pay tribute
to our veterans. I have
arranged for The New York
Army Reserve, Alpha Company
Recruiting and Retention
Battalion, to perform a
white glove ceremony to raise
our new fl ag on November
8.” He went on to write: “We
must always pay respect to the
men and women who fought
to make the U.S.A. the land of
the Free and the home of the
Brave. God bless America!”
November 8 fi nally arrived
and I told Miguel’s story to a
gym full of students, and veterans
from various branches
who had served in various
wars. I told them how Miguel
got me to stand and be recognized
for my service to the
U.S.A. My two sons, Miguel
and Cristian, surprised me
by attending the event; luckily,
they were both off from
school. It was important to let
the students know that their
program has made a difference;
and, because their program,
I have been standing
ever since.
My presentation was well
received and after seven
years, Miguel presented his
poem to the Bronx Veteran’s
Museum. Once again, P.S. 108
did a great job honoring our
veterans. The student’s program
brought tears to the eyes
of many. Miguel also present
P.S. 108 with a copy of his
poem.
After my presentation, I returned
to my offi ce to witness
the program Vincent had arranged.
The white glove ceremony
to raise a new fl ag was
a fi rst for BMNAR. The sidewalk
was crowded with invited
guests and onlookers.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera
was kind enough to attend
the ceremony and share a
few words. What a wonderful
day I witnessed to honor our
veterans. A big thank you to
Vincent and P.S. 108 for making
this day a very special
one.
The BMNAR holiday party
and toy drive will be on
Thursday, December 12, at the
Marina del Rey. Call (718) 892-
3000 for more information.
Below is my son’s poem entitled:
A Vet’s Silence
I never knew my father
served,
He never said a word.
When I asked on Veteran’s
Day,
This is what my dad had to
say.
Yes, my son, I am a vet,
Four years of my life the U.
S. did get.
The fear of war I embraced,
On two occasions I nearly
faced.
But the threat of war was
erased.
Not a single war in my tour,
I’m a peace time veteran forever
more.
We are free my son,
So far, democracy has won.
Yet, there is a lack of respect
for those who served,
That is why, my son, I never
said a word.
By Miguel Clemente Rodriguez
Bronx Jewish Center hosts Community Dinner
BY STEVE GLOSSER
Please join us for our next
community Shabbat dinner
on Friday, December 6 starting
at 7 p.m. at the Bronx
Jewish Center. The BJC will
be going orange. The special
theme for that evening will
be autumn orange. All of
your traditional style dishes
will take center stage. We
look forward to seeing you.
Enjoy a delicious 4-course
dinner with your fellow
neighbors. Turn your Friday
night Shabbat into an evening
of spiritual awakening,
inspiration, Jewish songs
and culinary delight. All are
welcome .
Please RSVP (718) 812-1701
to let us know you are coming.
Shabbat dinners are
held the fi rst Friday of every
month.