"A veteran, whether in active duty, discharged, retired or in the reserves, is someone who, at one point or another in his life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, and are deserving of our debt and gratitude"
Most of the photos of my late dad, Frank Augustine were taken in the rotunda, at the Justice Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City, NJ on April 15, 2014. They were photographed by my brother-in-aw Joseph McAllister, a veteran of the United States Navy. I would like to also thank him and other family members including my late cousin Nick Girone, and his surviving son, Carmine Girone Jr., for their service as well as all veterans who have come and gone or are currently serving our country.
My sister Josephine and I were fortunate enough to be at our late father's side when he and 80 other veterans received Military Service Medals Citation Certificates for their years of service. In addition, dad received a Proclamation from the office of the former Mayor of Hoboken, Dawn Zimmer. The event was a joint effort by the Hudson County Executive, Thomas A. De Gise, the Office of Veteran Affairs, and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Dad had followed the footsteps of my Uncle Joe and my Uncle Anthony Augustine and was stationed at San Antonio Texas (See B&W Photo). Dad served under the command of his mentor and friend, Army Chaplain Capt. William Walsh and served as his personal aide until September 15, 1938. His last stint was at Walter Reed National Army Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland.
The photos of the handsome young man in the cockpit of a fighter jet is my nephew Andrew Augustine, a career Air Force veteran who is stationed at the Okinawa Island Naval Base, in Japan with his wife Kaylyn who is also a veteran and their beautiful daughter Ayla. As an F-15 Crew Chief and Air Force Sergeant, Andrew is responsible for making sure these jets are battle ready. He has been recognized by his exceptional performance, valor, fidelity and patriotism. He does the family and country proud. Thank you for your service Andrew! We are all proud of the man you have become.
Postscript: Andrew has a tattoo of an image of a army tank with the word FRANK on the barrel of the gun in honor of his grandpa Frank whom he fondly called "Frank the Tank,” because my dad liked to rhyme the names of his kids and grandkids.
