Don and I were so happy to renew friendships with so many military and civilians alike at last Saturday’s Toast to Dennis at the magnificent riverfront home of Kim and Ron Jaeger in Rumson. This is the sixth year the Jaegers have opened their home to raise funds for the Dennis W Zilinski II Memorial Fund, the organization that provides both morale and welfare to military and their families. And what a night it was! There were hundreds there, and members or retired members of each of the branches of service gave the symbolic and traditional toast to Dennis in a very moving though impromptu ceremony. In fact, Don was honored to be asked to raise his glass for the Coast Guard, since he retired from that branch. And Charlie Brown was as wonderful as always playing the guitar and singing for everyone’s pleasure. Ken Burke was phenomenal as master of ceremonies and former White House Chef John Grifo (we k now him better as one of the top 25 Souther New Jersey chefs!) outdid himself with food stations overflowing with delicacies at every corner! Even the rain stopped in time for this wonderful event to be held outdoors. So great to see Fuzz and Nancy Harrison make their way up from their Virginia home especially for this event. Fuzz is happily enjoying retirement after serving for a year at the Pentagon after leaving NWS Earle in 2013 as its commanding officer. A well needed rest before he takes on another position. The Dennis Zilinski award, one of many things the Memorial Fund underwrites, was presented last month to Paul Volpe, a Glen Rock young man in the 154th graduating glass from the State Police Academy in Toms River. The Memorial Fund provides the award to a prior or active military member of the graduating class each year. A little better than one out of five members of that State Police class of 2014 are prior military, so our hats always go off to those fine men and women so eager and ready to protect our country.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 21:39:56 +0000
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