Veterans Day: Reflecting on the enduring legacies of patriotism and community

By Barbara Preston for The Montgomery News | November 10, 2026

On a crisp autumn afternoon in Belle Mead, the past and present converged in a solemn yet celebratory tribute to local residents’ military service. Hosted by Dimitra Bairaktaris and the Montgomery Veterans Memorial Committee on November 8, the annual Veterans Day ceremony brought together service members across conflicts, local officials, youth groups, and historians to reflect on the enduring legacies of patriotism and community.

A Montgomery student participates in the town's Veteran's Day ceremony on November 8.

Photo by Barbara A. Preston

The observance began with a tradition grounded in personal recognition. Local scouts wound through the crowd with microphones, allowing present veterans to introduce themselves, spanning decades of military history. Among those recognized were Bairaktaris, a former U.S. Army Captain who served from 1996 to 2006 including a tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom; Mike Maloney, a Marine Corps CH-53 aircrew member from 1984 to 1987; and Richard Zygadlo, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel whose 27-year career included two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Others spanning service from the 1950s National Guard to active duty Marine Corps officers added their voices to the roll call, highlighting the deep military roots woven into the fabric of the local township.

Master of Ceremonies Dimitra Bairaktaris.

Dennis Ahn, a member of the Montgomery Township Committee and himself a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1997 to 1999, reflected on the personal motivations that lead individuals to serve. Ahn's parents immigrated here from South Korea. Living with his grandparents, he would hear stories from his grandfather about his time as a master chief petty officer in the South Korean Navy, fighting alongside the U.S. Navy against communism.

“I enlisted because of that love of country,” Ahn told the assembled audience. “But what I didn’t realize at the time was that I was going to discover something equally as powerful, something I would carry with me for the rest of my life: brotherhood. The bond you build with your squad, your platoon, your company ... it’s a connection built on shared experience, sacrifice, trust, and unconditional love for our brothers and sisters who have served.”

Montgomery Township Committeeman Dennis Ahn spoke about the bond of brotherhood he experienced while in the U.S. Army.

"something I would carry with me for the rest of my life."

Introducing the day’s guest speaker, Ahn presented Tim Fallon, a Montgomery resident who served as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer following his graduation from St. Joseph’s University in 2008. Deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province as a platoon commander with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Fallon was medically retired in 2013 and has since built a career in defense strategy and risk management.

Fallon offered a nuanced perspective on the distinction between national holidays, contrasting the somber grief of Memorial Day—born out of the trauma of the American Civil War—with Veterans Day, which he described as a day centered on family pride, joy, and shared camaraderie.

Above center, Montgomery resident Tim Fallon with his wife and daughter. Fallon served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2009 to 2013.

Reconnecting the audience with the human element of frontline service, Fallon recounted a lighter story from his deployment in Afghanistan involving a Marine named Tom Devine. During an intense firefight, Devine was wounded in the leg and brought to a landing zone to await medical evacuation. Despite the noise of incoming fire and the urgency of the moment, Devine repeatedly tugged on his Gunnery Sergeant's arm, insisting on retrieving a Spider-Man mask he had brought on deployment. When the medevac helicopter swooped in under heavy dust and rotor wash, crew members were greeted by the surreal sight of a wounded Marine wearing a superhero mask being loaded onto the aircraft. The anecdote, Fallon noted, captured the spirit of military units functioning as tight-knit, idiosyncratic families whose shared humor and resilience endure long after combat ends.

Tim Fallon

Montgomery Mayor Neena Singh spoke at the ceremony, thanking the Veterans Memorial Committee for honoring local veterans, active-duty service members, and their supporting families. She emphasized that service involves putting something greater than oneself ahead of personal interests, shared a personal reflection on her father-in-law's World War II service and her journey as a naturalized citizen, and noted that everyday freedoms and peaceful routines are protected by the sacrifices of those who served. She concluded by stressing that honoring veterans is an ongoing daily responsibility.

"Behind the name of every veteran is a family, a story, a sacrifice, and a commitment to something greater than oneself," she said.  "That is the legacy of service. That is the gift veterans give us. The ability to live in a nation where opportunity, democracy, and hope are possible."

"We may never be able to repay the debt we owe those who have defended our freedom. But we can make sure that we never forget it."

Presentation of Colors, led by Montgomery Township Scout Troop 850

Beyond honoring living veterans, this year's ceremony featured a prominent youth outreach component linking local students to the nation's upcoming Semiquincentennial celebration. Partnering with Montgomery Township Lower Middle School (LMS) and the Van Harlingen Historical Society, the committee tasked fifth-grade students with researching and writing letters to Montgomery veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Candy Wills, Van Harlingen Historical Society.

Historical society leaders Jim Irish and Candy Willis detailed the extensive archival research that uncovered over 100 Revolutionary War soldiers from the area whose names had previously gone unrecorded on local memorials. Errors in 19th-century rosters and misspelled surnames—such as Dirck Gulick, who fought for nearly eight years—had obscured their contributions for generations.

Students presented their research and letters through speeches, skits, and a puppet show. Essays addressed to figures such as John Skillman—who enlisted in 1775, marched to New York City and Westfield, and fought in the Battle of White Plains—highlighted the sacrifices made by early patriots to secure American independence. LMS Vice Principal Scott and student presenters read aloud notes of gratitude, reflecting on the long line of service connecting 18th-century Continentals to 21st-century veterans.

Closing the event, organizers presented the participating students with historical commemorative unit patches depicting American soldiers from the Revolution to the present day, symbolizing the transmission of civic responsibility to the next generation.

The Veterans committee gave commemorative unit patches to the students who participated in the ceremony.