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Ocean County Veterans Day Parade Steps off Nov. 12 in Toms River

by
Catherine Galioto
November 9, 2018

2014 Veterans Day Parade in Toms River featured paradewatchers showing their support. (photo by Catherine Galioto)

The Ocean County Veterans Day Parade will again be hosted in Toms River and this year features two grand marshals from the township: Army Sgt. Richard Monticello and Marine Captain Peter Hartman

The parade will start at 9:45 a.m. Monday, November 12 at the Toms River Shopping Center on Rt. 37 and will travel south on Main Street (Rt. 166) and then east onto Washington Street, before concluding with a ceremony in front of Town Hall.

The ceremony will feature speakers and honored guests, including a placing of the wreath on the Veteran’s monument. This Veterans Day also has the distinction of being 100 years since the end of World War I. Then known as Armistice Day, the national holiday came as a result of WWI efforts.

As in previous years, there is no rain date for the parade. If the parade is canceled, a ceremony will take place in Town Hall in the L. Manuel Hirshblond Meeting Room at 10 a.m.

The township released the biography information from each of grand marshals:

“Sgt. Richard Monticello graduated from Toms River High School East in 1989. After graduation, he enlisted at the Toms River Recruiting Station where he completed basic training, Infantry School and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Sergeant. Monticello is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he received his Master of Policy Management in Public Policy.

Since 2007, Sgt. Monticello has served as Resident Special Agent-in-Charge at the Department of Defense for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). The DCIS conducts investigations into matters related to Department of Defense civilian programs and military operations focusing on terrorism, fraud, public corruption, health care fraud and cyber-crimes.

After graduation, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sgt. Monticello served as a team leader in an infantry squad assigned as supervisor and spotter for a sniper team. He completed an overseas deployment in Egypt and assisted allied units in the Sinai desert.

Upon his honorable discharge from active duty, he enlisted in the Army Reserve, and graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police School becoming a 95 Bravo Military Police Officer. Sgt. Monticello received numerous awards and decorations including the Parachutist badge, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal and the Dutch Army light machine gun marksmanship badge. Sgt. Monticello is also a member of the American Legion Post 129 in Toms River and the NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police.

The second grand marshal is Captain Peter Hartman. He graduated from Penn State University and entered the Marine Corps in 1969, receiving his commission as second lieutenant. Captain Hartman was transferred to Texas in 1970 where he received advance jet training in formation, instrument and cross-country flying.

He earned his wings in 1971 and was then stationed in California for training in the F-4 Phantom II. The training included air combat maneuvering, close air support and inflight refueling.

In July 1973, Captain Hartman was transferred to the Far East for combat missions. He flew 12 combat missions in Cambodia before all hostilities ceases as decreed by Congress. He also made flights to Taiwan and South Korea. He was promoted to Captain in May 1974 while in the Philippines and designated as an air combat tactics instructor. Captain Hartman was released from active duty in November 1974. He has resided in Toms River since 1974.

‘These two Grand Marshals are exemplary individuals who will lead hundreds of veterans, civic groups and musical bands at this very meaningful event,’ said Mayor Tom Kelaher. The grand marshals received proclamations from the governing body at the October 23, 2018 meeting.”