United States Marine Corps Reservist and Roselle Park resident Miguel Martinez was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by the Borough of Roselle Park at the October 5th Mayor & Council meeting.
Mayor Carl Hokanson and Third Ward Councilman William Fahoury, both Marine Corps veterans, presented the proclamation on behalf of the governing body to Miguel who was in attendance with his father.
On October 1st, the New Jersey Veterans Network – based out of Union Township – in association with the Disabled Veterans of Union County, Temple Sha’arey Shalom of Springfield NJ, and Family Promise of Union County – held its first 5k “Salute To Veterans Patriots 5k & Fun Run” in Springfield. The event honored veterans from Union County and chose one veteran from each town in the county to recognize. Miguel was honored as the veteran from Roselle Park in its first annual run/walk event.
Miguel, age 22, graduated Roselle Park High School in 2013. He was paralyzed from the waist down when he was involved in a motorcycle accident in July of 2016. He was a Marine reservist who was stationed in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Locally, a fundraiser – which raised $2,518.72 – was held to help retrofit Miguel’s van to become handicap accessible. Also, Team Operation Rebound NJ presented Miguel with a handbike and a gym membership to Club Metro Fitness in Union Township. The organization is a group of veterans, police officers, first responders and others to help spread awareness how athletics helps to empower our disabled veterans, first responders, and police officers to live a healthy and active life after a traumatic event.
Councilman Fahoury read – on behalf of Mayor Hokanson – read, “Be it proclaimed that I, Carl A. Hokanson, mayor of the Borough of Roselle Park, in the county of Union, in the state of New Jersey, do hereby and on behalf of the Borough as a whole extend sincere commendation to Miguel Martinez on his resilience and perseverance throughout this recovery. Semper Fidelis.”
