The celebration featured an assortment of barbecued goodies, live music, displays of military hardware and information booths.
HARRISON TWP. -- At 15 years old, Kobie Truman already knows that he wants to serve in the U.S. military.
The West Deptford teen checked out a .50-caliber machine gun on display at the annual People for People Veterans Picnic on Saturday afternoon at the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds as he talked about his future.
Truman wants to be a combat engineer in the U.S. Army.
He feels many lack the appropriate respect for veterans and their service.
"In schools, they don't really teach what these people have done," Truman said of the veterans. "Nowadays, when you see people singing the National Anthem, half the people don't even take off their hats. It's just disrespect."
He praised those who took time to stop out at the fairgrounds Saturday afternoon.
"I think the people that are going to come here and show their respect are the people that actually care," he said.
The annual celebration featured an assortment of barbecued goodies, live music, displays of military hardware and information booths.
"This is a great way to honor those who have served our country and pay tribute to them (the veterans) and give them the honor they deserve," said Jesse Edmunds, president of Calvary's Thunder No. 483, the Salem chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.
Several members of Edmunds' family have been in the military, including his step-father, who served in World War II aboard the USS St. Paul in the Pacific Theater.
Williamstown resident Ray McBride served in Korea from 1953 to 1955, arriving a few months after the armistice was signed. On Saturday, he stood next to a .50-caliber machine gun as visitors checked out the hardware. He was stationed on top of a mountain on the north side of Seoul, where he helped guard a military installation with the help of his .50-caliber sidekick.
McBride, a member of the Korean War Veterans Association, said group members visit South Jersey high schools to share their stories, and he's glad they are still asked back every year.
"There are so few of us left," he said, noting that each year fewer World War II veterans are able to attend events like the veterans picnic. "Korea is getting the same way."
Glassboro Memorial Post, with represents Glassboro VFW, Glassboro American Legion, South Jersey Vietnam Veterans Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Disabled American Veterans, had a table set up Saturday at the fairgrounds.
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Charles Gallagher and Dennis Cleary were manning the table and offered their thoughts on why the veterans picnic is such an important event.
"We're here taking care of veterans and offering them a little thank you," Gallagher said. "That's what makes this so fantastic. It's strictly for veterans by veterans."
Cleary agreed. "It's a nice program," he said. "There's food for everybody and very good entertainment. It should be a good day."
Paul and Bernadette Blackstock founded the event in 1984. Paul's father, a D-Day veteran, wanted to gather his brothers in arms to mark the 40th anniversary of D-Day, so they planned an event in Philadelphia. That event drew several thousand veterans and their families. Since then, the program has grown and moved a few times. It's been held at the fairgrounds since 2003.
"It's important for us to never forget," Bernadette Blackstock said Saturday. "Never forget the veterans who have served us, the veterans who have gone before us and the veterans that are still with us. They need to know that we still support them."
The veterans assembled Saturday at the fairgrounds clearly appreciated the effort.
Wes Walker of Mullica Hill served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II, then joined the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He sat with friends enjoying lunch.
"I enjoy visiting with the old-timers," he said, as he surveyed the growing crowd.
One of his favorite aspects of the event?
"It's the best lunch you'll ever have."
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.