The Battleship New Jersey and Camden County Freeholders host Thanksgiving dinner for active military personnel from Joint Base – McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Dover Air Force Base.
CAMDEN-- Motorcycle groups holding American flags filled the pier at the Battleship New Jersey to welcome service men and women as they boarded for a special Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday.
Freeholder Ed McDonnell is the liaison to Camden County's Office of Veterans Affairs and says, "Many of these brave men and women are hundreds and thousands of miles away from their family on Thanksgiving in service to our nation, " McDonnell said. "So creating a festive atmosphere with food, football and compatriots on the most decorated battleship in naval history is the right thing to do in order to build a home away from home for our men and women in uniform."
Among the honored veterans was Russ Collins, of Palmyra. From 1943 to 1946 he worked in the engine room of the New Jersey. He said the event was great. And called it, "a real shot in the arm for New Jersey and there are a bunch of good people here."
Volunteers dished out food prepared by Andreotti's Catering of Cherry Hill, complete with all the right sides.
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Freeholder McDonnell continued to say, "We feel that offering these brave men and women a hot Thanksgiving meal with all of the trimmings is the very least we can do to express our gratitude for their service to our country." He added, "Their faithful duty to our nation makes us all truly thankful for these heroes on this holiday."
Jesse U. Bair may be reached at jbair@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bair_jesse. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
