Residents of Cherry Hill and beyond will be treated in May to patriotic presentations and discussion at the Katz JCC. According to Katz marketing director Stephanie Dworkin, the program will be extended to six installments over five weeks this year.
These weekly talks are sponsored by the Norman and May Brill Memorial Endowment Fund, in partnership with the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. They are free and open to the public. On the docket and in order, the subjects of each talk are expected to be:
- Friday, May 3: Washington and Veterans
- Friday, May 10: Women in the Military
- Wednesday, May 15: presentation from an Israeli brigadier general
- Friday, May 17: 350 Years of Jews in the Military
- Friday, May 24: Our Flag and its History
- Friday, May 31: Religion and Our Military
“The Jewish War Veterans ‘Veterans Recognition Series’ in May is a time to remember those that have served in the U.S. military during war and peace-time since the beginning of our great republic and also the millions of men and women who have served and continue to serve since 9/11,” said Nelson Mellitz, USAF Retired, a Cherry Hill resident and past veteran speaker.
“Among those that have served since 9/11 are over 100,000 Jewish men and women that will carry injuries, either mental or physical, for their entire lives because they raised their right hand and pledged to support our freedoms. This veteran recognition series seeks to inform our community that the U.S. military is still involved in over 30 active combat operations throughout the world and we must continue to support those that serve to preserve our Constitutional rights.”
Memorial Day, whose origins arose after the need to honor those who fought in the Civil War, became a federal holiday in 1971. This year, it is slated to occur on May 27.
For more information on the speaker series, contact the Katz JCC Adult Department at (856) 424-4444 x1247.