SAVOR SUMMER: SHOP, DINE & EXPLORE PAGE 23 theconnectionsnj.com Bong Jewelers Since 1989 For All Your Fine Jewelry EXELLENCE IN EVERY DETAIL Specializing in Custom-Designed Jewelry Repairs Done on Premises WE BUY GOLD & SILVER! HIGHEST PRICES PAID! Immediate payment with a free, professional appraisal: Diamonds, Rings, Watches and More! We Buy ANY Type of GOLD & SILVER: Broken, Damaged Jewelry or Scrap DETAIL welry LD & SILVER! LVER! CONGRATULATIONS! Bong Jewelers is ranked #1 in Plain eld! BEST OF AWARD WINNER 2026 Bong Jewelers Business Rate Jeweler Plainfield New Jersey (908) 769-0345 Monday-Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM 142 E. Front Street | Plainfield, NJ Presented by Complimentary Jewelry Cleaning Expires: 8/31/26 2 Complimentary Batteries with is Ad Expires: 8/31/26 By Stacia McDonough, President of Independence for Veterans This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great nation, “from sea to shining sea,” it is a milestone that also coincides with what would have been the birthday of my late husband, John E. McDonough, a truly extraordinary gentleman. This momentous occasion is made possible by the service, unwavering patriotism, and inconthose who have served, my profound gratitude for them transcends the limitations of mere words. What follows is a small glimpse into the life of an altruistic Renaissance man who inspired my John E. McDonough, a decoratedVietnam veteran, and Sergeant in the United StatesAir Force, chose to enlist even though he had earned a full football scholarship to Oklahoma State University, which would have exempted him from the draft. During his time “In Country,” he was stationed in three renowned hot zones: Saigon, NhaTrang, andAn Loc. To cope with the daily weight of war, John trained inTae Kwon Do in the evenings with the Korean ROCArmy, our allies, and achieved his black belt in just one year—an impressive accomplishment, given that it typically takes at least three. He consistently went above and beyond to support and protect the men in his unit, the 21stTacticalAir Support Squadron, even at great personal risk.Years later, I received a call from one of his fellow airmen who told me that John had saved his life.True to his nature, John had never mentioned it. His humility was as exceptional as his courage. Citations, theAir Force Outstanding UnitAward with a “V” device for valor, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. In 2008, following his untimely passing, John was posthumously inducted into theVietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, where a poignant photograph of him from his time in Vietnam remains on permanent display. The contributions of our former servicemen and women are immeasurable. Debts that can never be repaid.We may not all agree on our nation’s policies, however, after having the privilege of working alongside veterans for more than two decades, I graciously request we unite on this: the kindness, compassion, and dignity they have so rightly earned. On any given night, there are approximately 40,000 homelessVeterans sleeping on the streets in the U.S. Proceeds from fundraising will be used to supply permanent housing for our homeless Veterans at no cost to them. Kindly join us in honoring those who served to protect our great nation and our freedoms. Our Veterans should never have to sleep on the streets or go hungry. Please consider joining us! Independence for Veterans P.O. Box 7, Bedminster, NJ 07921 Tel: 908-470-1930 ind ceforveterans.org
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