WHAT WE DO…
BREAKFAST FOR THE RESIDENTS
We, the Marines and Associates of the Slattery Detachment, recently had a number of occasions to express our Esprit de Corps and fulfill our mission of service and comradery for veterans in need of companionship, assistance or condolences.
August 16, 2025, Detail at Lyons VA, Community Living Center, Breakfast for the residents.
Mara Modes and Tony Fiorentino at the Lyons VA Community Center in August 2025
Earlier this year, and most recently again on 16 AUG 2025, a detail consisting of about a dozen Slattery members assembled at the Community Living Center located at the VA Hospital complex in Lyons NJ. We brought refreshments and, just as importantly, company, to 32 resident Veterans with varying levels of disabilities. We call it “breakfast” but the chow we bring serves mainly as an excuse to socialize with people who otherwise live the life of routine you would expect of a person confined to a wheelchair or otherwise physically restricted or limited. They seemed to appreciate the opportunity to have an easy conversation with outside visitors who know and understand their experiences.
Actually, these visits benefited the Slattery members as much as the resident Veterans. The exchange of stories, jokes and experiences was enjoyed by both groups. The sense that we were doing something worthwhile for people who appreciate it is more satisfying than you might expect.
On a more somber note, we had two recent occasions to perform funeral duty for deceased members.
July 29, 2025, Detail attending the Funeral Mass for deceased member, Frank Gargano
On 29 JULY 2025, a detail of nine members assembled at Notre Dame RC Church in North Caldwell to pay our respects to Frank Gargano, a deceased member, at his funeral Mass. The detail included the Commandant, the Chaplain and Gunny Monaco, resplendent as always in Blue Dress “B” uniform. At the appropriate time, the detail formed up near the front of the altar, with Gunny guarding the urn containing the decedent’s ashes.
The Chaplain and the Commandant performed the prescribed ceremony, the detail saluted and we filed out, forming two lines with Gunny and the urn in the center. We stood in formation in the entranceway as the mourners passed through. Unexpectedly, many of them stopped to thank us individually on their way out.
August 13, 2025, Detail attending the Funeral Mass for deceased member Ted Jemas
Not long afterward, on 13 AUG 2025, we once again assembled for funeral duty, this time at Saint Catherine of Sienna RC Church in Cedar Grove, for Ted Jemas, our deceased member. We formed up, marched to our seats in the front pew and awaited the signal for our ceremony. Again, Gunny, in Dress Blues, stood guard at the urn containing the deceased’s ashes. We assumed our formation at the Altar, and the Commandant and the Chaplain read the prescribed words from the ceremony book. This time, supplementing the Slattery Detachment detail, three Marines from I&I, G Company, 2/25 from Dover, wearing their Blue Dress “B”, were present to perform Military Honors. At Gunny Monaco’s signal their Gunnery Sargent and a non-com approached, unfolded and re-folded the American Flag and presented it to Ted’s widow, while another non-com bugled Taps. Very moving and appropriate.
These events are but examples of what we, The Robert J. Slattery Detachment of the Marine Corps League undertake in fulfillment of our mission statement.
Semper Fi,
Mike Dougherty
