Ceremony at Glendale Cemetery honors those lost in Vietnam

The 261 young men who fought in Vietnam and are buried in the veterans section of Glendale Cemetery were remembered in a ceremony on March 29, which is Vietnam War Veterans Day.

During the war, 137 men died while another 124 died just a few years after war’s end, most likely from war-related injuries or Agent Orange. The average age of those buried at the site who died during the war was 23 and those who died after the war 33, according to a press release from the Belleville Historical Society.

Each gravestone had been cleaned and marked with an American flag prior to the ceremony and a large turnout paid their respects on a somber but sunny day. As aged Vietnam veterans read aloud the names of their fallen young comrades, a bell tolled.

Board of Education Trustee Tracy Williams sang the National Anthem, Fr.

David Hinojosa from St. Peter's Church offered prayers and blessed the graves. Commander Joe Cobianchi of American Legion Post 105 was the keynote speaker. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a U.S. Navy veteran, was represented by her aide Willy Tolba.

Bagpipe tunes were played by Belleville Firefighter Chase Hamilton and the service ended with Taps played by Stevens Institute of Technology Police Chief Timothy Griffin.

Joining in paying tribute at the event were members of Belleville American Legion Post 105, Sons of the American Legion Post 105, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 366, Belleville-Nutley Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22, Mayor Michael Melham, Councilman Steven Rovell, Councilman Vinnie Cozzarelli and Board of Education President Luis Munoz.

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