They Didn’t Walk Over Us – They Trampled Over Us
At the beginning of May, the Mayor’s Office called us (the American Legion Post #45 in Perth Amboy) regards to the Memorial Day Program.
First, let me tell you a little bit about what the American Legion does:
Prior to Memorial Day, ,the American Legionaries along with our subgroups: the Sons of the American Legion, our Ladies Auxiliary and the ROTC place flags on the Veteran’s graves. The flags and wreaths are supplied by the Middlesex County Military Alliance. Doug Breen is the coordinator from that group. Over 1700 flags are placed within 7 cemeteries.
I also would like to mention the Late Honorable Judge Joseph Deegan and the Late Edmund Hmieleski, Jr. who were from the VFW #663 who were instrumental in getting the Veteran’s Monument constructed on Sadowski Parkway. They later joined the American Legion Post 45.
On this past Memorial day, on the City’s Memorial Day Program, the American Legion was listed that we were to serve a light luncheon after the Ceremony. Originally, there was supposed to be a parade, which was canceled due to impending inclement weather. It was noted in case of rain that the Ceremony would be held at the Olive Street Community Center. The American Legion was never told that the plan had changed and refreshments will be held at Olive Street.
The American Legion Hall was beautifully decorated in patriotic colors for the occasion and food was supposed to be provided by the City.
What was really upsetting is how the Memorial Day Service was politicized.
When Veteran John DeNardo came up to make remarks. He became emotional and started to tear up. Then he said: “Everyone, please stand up and put your hands together for Mayor Diaz – and vote for her!”
At this point, I said to the other American Legion Members who were at the service – “Let’s get out of here. There’s no reason for us to be here.”
I was very disappointed that we were not recognized and the Memorial Day Ceremony turned into a political function.
They didn’t just walk over us – they trampled over us!
As told to the Amboy Guardian by:
Charles Moe
Past Commander and now Chairman American Legion Post #45
530 Smith St., Perth Amboy
Political Witch Hunt
I was appointed to the Planning Board by the Mayor Wilda Diaz since 2009 and I was voted as Chairwoman by the majority of the members for the past six years.
These, past seven years have not been easy due to the challenges that the Board encountered which were issues left behind by the previous administration, yet we have had many successes like The E-port, Federal Hill and working with the Perth Amboy housing authority to build the Parkview senior apartments. My intentions in all I’ve have been involved with is to make our city the best and to serve the citizen. The Mayor has never had any complains about how I’ve handle the Board and in many instances she asked me to help her achieve very important projects for our city. I and all the members of the Planning Board have worked many hours as volunteers putting aside our personal lives for the good of the city and to make the Mayor look good with zero compensation and no thank you from our Mayor yet, we proceeded year after year to take off from work and used our personal and vacation days to take classes at the NJLM convention. We were mention at one of the MJLM meetings as one of the Boards that have improved greatly in the past 8 years as we have striven to Educate ourselves with the matters of land use in order to make informed decisions that will benefit our city and our citizens.
You may be asking why I am telling all of you this, the reason is that yesterday I received a letter from the Business Administrator of the city of Perth Amboy stating “Given the great responsibilities entrusted upon you by the City of Perth Amboy (“City”), please accept this letter as a formal notice that your recent behavior and public statements are not in common with the mission of the City’s Planning Board. We expect you to maintain a demeanor that is fit for the position you hold as Chair of the City’s Planning Board, and uphold your responsibilities in a fair and unbiased manner…”
After, I read this letter I reached out to the Business Administrator seeking clarification in writing about what behavior of mine has been a detriment to the city. After two phones calls to the Business administrators still no answer. At this time, I do not know what to believe other than Mayor Wilda Diaz is retaliating against me because, I’ve decided not to support her. I am totally surprised that she will seek political retribution against me after, the many years that I supported her. It is very upsetting to me that Mayor Wilda Diaz behavior is today the same as our ex-mayor when a person decided not to support him.
I supported her in the past and one of her promises was that she will be a 2 term Mayor, that our city will progress, our properties will be at a higher value, our quality of life improved, our crime will be down and our taxes will stabilized…None of the above she has accomplished neither she kept her promised about running for 2 terms and this is why I’ve decided to endorse and support Joel Pabon because, we can’t go back to the past where we had a Mayor who thought he was a King we can’t have a Queen now imposing her will on us and taking political vendettas against those who disagree with her.
Time to make a change and if she wants to punish me for having freedom of choices and freedom of speech the core values of our constitution I must remind her that I fought the King and toppled him….
Maria Garcia
