A band of brothers and sisters gather in Hoboken ahead of Veterans Day

HOBOKEN John Jack Dunne was 18 when he first entered the Marine Corps in the 1980s. He was modest about this, dismissively waving his arm. We were all that age. I wasnt special, he said, laughing.

Little did Dunne know he would become a career military man, later joining the Air Force from 2001 to 2017 and serving during the Iraq War where he would rise to Master Sergeant before retiring.

Dunne the Hudson County American Legion commander was joined by other veterans and city officials Sunday for the American Legion Observance and Wreath Ceremony at the World War I Memorial in Hobokens Elysian Park.

Hoboken American Legion Post 107 hosted the ceremony, which commemorated Hudson County American Legions centennial, ahead of several events in observance of Veterans Day on Monday.

A photo of smiling Hoboken veteran Vincent Wassman was displayed among flowers and American Flags. Wassman who served in World War II and the Korean War died Oct. 10 at 94.

"When you enter the military and serve you create a bond with your brothers and sisters that can never be broken. Its a bond that stays with you for the rest of your life, said Dunne.

Mark Villamar, an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War in 1970 and 1971, spoke candidly of what it means to take up arms for your country.

You give someone thats 18 or 19 years old a weapon and theyre going out there and have to [both] be responsible for their comrades and take into account the rules of conflict, said Villamar, Post 107s Finance ....