Opinion: Let’s properly honor our Vets

I applaud the town of North Bergen and it’s Public Works Department for all of the fantastic improvements to, and daily upkeep of, the James J. Braddock Park over the past year. However, there must be immediate attention paid to the recently-dedicated Veteran’s Park section at 90th Street and Bergenline Avenue.

On my last two visits to the park (over the last week) for night-time exercise, the lights at the Veteran’s Memorial have all been off. While I understand electrical malfunctions can happen at any time, what is inexcusable is allowing our American flag to fly in complete darkness. Old Glory is what our brave Military men and women have fought to defend for centuries and never should it be allowed to fly without a nighttime light shining brightly on the majestic Stars and Stripes.

What makes this situation more disappointing is the fact that on both of my recent visits, there have been four fully-lit playing fields with nary a player on any of them. Those three baseball fields and one football field are inside Braddock Park and either adjacent, or close-by, the Veteran’s Park.

Let’s properly honor our Vets with either a brightly lit American flag every night, or, the proper removal of the same flag at dusk until the lights are fixed.