The 9th Annual Thanksgiving for the Troops Was held on Thursday, November 22, 2012 (Thanksgiving Day), from 11am – 2pm at the America’s Best Value Inn, in Cherry Hill, NJ.
DETAILS: This was the ninth year the Jewish War Veterans Post 126 hosted approximately 300 out of state Soldiers that were training at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and were treated to a surprise traditional Thanksgiving meal, along with entertainment. Due to their training schedule, these service members were unable to be home with their families for the holidays.
The event was again held at the Palace of Asia Ballroom on Route 70 East in Cherry Hill, NJ and is named for Cherry Hill native, Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Kane, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in January of 2010. In addition, former Jewish War Veterans New Jersey State and Post 126 Commander Arthur Seltzer was presented the Bronze Star by Colonel Jeffrey A Doll, USA, Commander of U.S. Army Support Activity, Fort Dix. Mr. Seltzer, 87, is a World War II Army Veteran of D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp. The Omaha Beach Veteran was to have been awarded the Bronze Star in 1966 but never received it. It was only during a recent Fox News Channel segment about Mr. Seltzer’s war experiences that his former commander now living in California, saw the interview and verified the missing information needed for Mr. Seltzer to receive the Bronze Star. (Fox News segment can be found at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525264,00.html )
The celebration delivered a good measure of South Jersey hospitality, great food, and a welcome distraction for soldiers far away from home. Senator James Beach, Chair of the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the NJ State Senate served as the Honorary Chair. Invited guests, Philadelphia Eagle alumni Vince Papale, Mike Mamula and Garry Cobb will entertain and greet the troops. Jill Horner, Miss New Jersey 2000 and Comcast Network anchor and DJ Stewart Balsham will also help us honor and entertain the Soldiers.
As in previous years, local residents, school children and veterans gathered outside of the ballroom in the parking lot to provide a well-deserved and patriotic surprise welcome for the troops as they arrive from the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, as they were escorted in by hundreds of motorcycles.
MAJOR SPONSORS INCLUDED;
All Risk
American Legion Post 372/Cherry Hill
Artex Knitting Mills
Balloon Celebrations
Blue Star Mothers of the Jersey Shore Chapter #4
Bodek and Rhodes
Borgata Heart & Soul Foundation
Cherry Hill Fire and Police Departments
Dave Fleisher and Family
Dell Inc
DJ Stewart Balsham
First Trust Financial Resources
Jim’s Jarhead Jerky
JWV Post 215, Philadelphia, PA,
KYW1060 News Radio
Last Patrol
MJ Corporate Sales
Nam Knights of America MC
PJ Whelihan’s Pubs
Rebecca, Celestine and Jeffery Berg
Reit Management and Research LLC
South Jersey Magazine
The Berg Family
The Philadelphia 76ers
The Spevak Family
US Family Health Plan
and all other veterans and civil organizations too numerous to mention