The Alternative Press

BERKLEY HEIGHTS, NJ - On Saturday afternoon, September 22nd, many Berkley Heights residents were "pigging out" as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6259 held their First Annual Pig Roast.   

Post 6259 has been in existence since 1946 and its members are military veterans who did at least one tour of duty in a combat zone during the following conflicts:  World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The VFW is an organization that provides service to our community and aids current veterans, their widows and orphans.

Admission was $25 for adults, $10 for kids ages 8-14 and children under 8 were free. Beside the five pigs, the food included hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, corn on the cob, mixed salad, cole slaw, baked beans, potato salad, watermelon, soda, water and beer. There were also children’s activities, a dunk tank, music, a horseshow tournament and door prizes.

Post commander Walter Gloss, who has been a member for six years and the commander for two, said the event originated when Mayor Joseph Bruno suggested they hold a picnic for the community. They then took his suggestion and threw a bunch of pigs into the mix and knew it would be a blast, Gloss said.  

“It looks like it’s pretty successful,” he said.

In addition to schmoozing and eating with family and friends, the event had a more meaningful purpose, he said. All of the proceeds went to the Lyons VA hospital in Basking Ridge where there are veterans with head and brain injuries that have to live there the rest of their lives. Gloss, along with some of his fellow VFW post 6259 members, visit there often, bringing them food and holding parties.   

“We try to help them,” he said. “We want to give back to the community. We support the town and the town’s trying to support us.”

The goal for the Roast was to create a community-oriented event, he said. While the post been dormant in the past, it is much more active lately.  Gloss hopes to start a college fund in the near future.  

He, along with fellow member Shilo Frampton, were there until 5:30 a.m. on Friday night/Saturday morning preparing the pigs. While there were some electrical mishaps and difficulties throughout the night and early morning, they were able to get everything ready. Frampton, who joined the VFW in 1976, said it was a great event and hopes it continues into the future.  

He also echoed Gloss’s sentiment about the Lyons Hospital.  He volunteers there six days a week and it really makes him feel good, he said.

“We do it because want to,” Frampton said.

Bonnie Vinciquerra and Jeanette Perlzak both have husbands in VFW Post 6259 and the two women were having a great time, while the men cooked. They both raved how Bonnie’s husband, Jim, is a world class chef.   

“What I really notice here is such a total community contribution,” Perlzak said.