We Salute You All!
up during WW II. “My father was
a veteran from WW I. When WW
II was declared, my two brothers
volunteered immediately,” she
said. She continued, “Raids were
very bad, so father said the safest
place to sleep was the underground
subway, which we did for two years.
When we returned home one morning,
a bomb had fallen very close to
our home. I wouldn’t be here if we
hadn’t slept in the subway.”
Chickie Kaufman and Judy
Tane addressed the audience to
talk about Vietnam. The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C., now has 58,257 names listed
on the wall and includes 31 sets of
brothers and 153 Medal of Honor
recipients. Chickie concluded,
“There are no noble wars, just noble
warriors.”
NST Board member Ed Phelan is
himself a Vietnam veteran, a 1st Sgt.
from the Army’s ultra-elite Delta
Force, whose soldiers are specially
trained to carry out highly classified
counter-terrorism and rescue missions.
Even after all these years, Ed
said, “I think of my comrades every
day, of the guys lost in Nam who
never had the chance to live the
lives they dreamed of. Every man
was a hero. Pray for them and their
families.”
EVERY TRIBUTE NEEDS MUSIC
Fred reminded the audience that
there was a lot of great music during
WW II, but that only one song,
“The House I Live In,” received
an Academy Award during those
years. He went on to relay that a
young corporal back then had a
great voice and was sent around
the world twice to entertain troops.
That young soldier is now NST’s
own Murray Levine, who sang
this powerful and touching song
with gusto and received a standing
ovation from the crowd.
Russell Targove, a frequent
entertainer at the Towers, took
the mike and treated everyone to
moving renditions of “The Star
Spangled Banner” and “God Bless
America.” In true veteran spirit,
everybody stood up and sung along.
Russell was joined by Mike Jones, a
co-member of their singing group,
The New Shades of Soul. Mike led
the singing in the classics, “Stand
by Me” and “Lean on Me” and dedicated
“America the Beautiful” to
all the veterans. Russell capped the
performance with a rousing “God
Bless the U.S.A.”
Fred concluded the program with
thanks to Glen Kotowski, John
Virga and Marty Ragusa for their
help in putting the evening together.
He then read the powerful poem,
Chickie Kaufman and Judy Tane
“A Veteran Died Today,” written by
an unknown author (see Sidebar).
Wishing everyone a good evening,
Fred said, “May we live and be well
and gather together next year.” No
doubt everyone is looking forward
to NST’s 17th Salute to Veterans
in 2020.
Excerpts from
“A Veteran Died Today”
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
and he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past.
Of the war he had fought in and the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies they were heroes, everyone.
And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away,
and the world's a little poorer for a veteran died today.
No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and
raised a family, quietly going on his way; and the world
won't note his passing, 'tho a veteran died today.
He was just a common veteran and his ranks are growing thin,
but his presence should remind us we may need his likes again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the military's
part is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say
Our country is in mourning, for a veteran died today.
NYS Senator John Liu
Fred Chernow & Murray Levine
Mike Jones & Russell Targove sang for everyone!
December 2019 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 11