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PARK continued from Page 13 gone. The fisherman left again later, and a soldier all the time,” she said. “He was cadets in a leader’s training course at
sister, Lauren. He took on odd jobs, but Buzinski reeled in another fish. always pretending he was a soldier. His Fort Knox, Kentucky, in 2009 before
nothing suited him until he decided to “They were the only three fish caught toys were GI Joes. He was always into being stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, as
join the Army in 2005. that day,” Tom Buzinski said. “That’s the Army since he was a a field artillery officer. He
Buzinski served from September one of my last memories, being out little boy.” was serving in Operation
2007 until December 2008 in Iraq, with there on Daytona on the pier.” Vázquez, the son of New Dawn when he was
the 101st Airborne out of Fort Camp- Buzinski was anxious to return to Puerto Rican parents, had killed at age 25. Posthu-
bell, Kentucky. He came back and his platoon that was fighting as part of a fierce sense of patrio- mously, he was awarded
decided the Army could be a career Operation Enduring Freedom. On April tism. His parents were the Purple Heart and
for him and, in 2009, re-enlisted with 7, 2011, he was killed by small arms fire proud of his love of the Bronze Star, the Global
the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort while on patrol; he was on his way back United States. War on Terrorism Service
Polk, Louisiana. In October 2010, they to base. Married with two stepdaugh- “It’s something we have Medal, the Operation Iraqi
deployed to Charkh, Afghanistan. Buz- ters, he was only 26. to do with children,” his Freedom Medal and the
inski, who was awarded the Purple Friends from all over the U.S. attended mother said. “We have to Combat Action Badge.
Heart and Bronze Star, saw his family his funeral. The Buzinskis talked to many teach them to love this “When he came home
while on leave for two weeks. of them and learned how much their country. I believe in that for Christmas, he was
One of Buzinski’s great loves was son was respected as a soldier. “He was so I taught him to be like so worried about his pla-
fishing, his father said. Whenever he becoming a squad leader and the other that.” Buzinski toon because he was the
was home on leave, they would find a younger guys were looking up to him As was the case for leader of that platoon,”
way to go out on a pier and spend time and finding direction from him on what Wilkus, the Sept. 11 Maria Vázquez said. “He
together. Father and son went fishing in they had to do in a combat area,” Tom attacks strengthened Vázquez’s resolve was worried because he was so far away
Daytona right before Buzinski returned Buzinski said. “He grew tremendously.” to serve, but his mother had one wish for and they were all by themselves. I don’t
to Afghanistan. * * * him first. She wanted him think he even enjoyed his
A nearby fisherman asked Buzinski to Maria Vázquez wasn’t surprised to go to college. After he visitation.”
watch his pole while he went to his car, when her son Omar joined the Army. graduated from McCorris- All the soldiers that
and he reeled in two fish while he was “For Halloween, he used to dress up as tin Catholic High School worked with him said he
(now Trenton Catholic was a good leader, she
Academy), he earned an said. “I’m very proud of
Reduce the cost of Mercer County Commu- son and he touched many
him. He was a good per-
associate’s degree from
nity College, then a bach-
lives. He helped a lot of
elor’s degree in history
people, even outside the
your dental care! from Rider University, and Army. He was that kind of
person,” she said.
finally a master’s degree in
memories
liberal arts from Rutgers
The
are
University at Camden.
the
cer-
rededication
The David Library at Rider uplifting for her, as was
established the Omar Snell emony that included the
Vázquez Prize for Excel- addition of benches for
lence in Undergraduate her son and Buzinski.
Research in 2014. “It’s close to my house to make it bet-
“When he was a teenager, he was in ter for me,” Maria Vázquez said. “I can go
everything,” Maria Vázquez said. “He and sit on his bench and read a book and
started with baseball, then things like that. It’s a beau-
he was into soccer, then he tiful park. I was very happy
played football. You name with the mayor. Mayor
it, he did it. He wrestled at Kelly’s words touched my
McCorristin. I don’t think heart. And it was pour-
he was really into it, but ing down but everybody
he did it because it was an was there. We didn’t care.
activity and he wanted to I remember her words.
give himself something. He Rain is nothing compared
The Hamilton Dental Access Membership Plan was more into history. to what these men went
through.”
“His professor became
provides the coverage that regular dental insurance can’t. his friend because he knew A special memorial
We believe that everyone should have access to great dental care so we created Hamilton so much about history. He is in the works for Vet-
Dental Access. knew more about history erans Park to recognize
You get exams, x-rays, cleanings and fluoride twice per year, as well as access to preferred than the professor. You can Vasquez the 88 Hamiltonians that
the Hamilton Township
talk to him about history all
rates on all of our other services. From the beginning, Hamilton Dental Access saves almost day, and he has an answer Patriotic Committee has
50% for bi-annual services that everyone needs. to everything. He was very brilliant, very confirmed have been killed serving the
Whether it’s regular checkups and cleanings, cosmetics, or orthodontics, we provide complete smart.” country dating back to the Civil War.
oral care for a lifetime. For information about Hamilton Dental Access call at 609-586-6603, Vázquez joined the Civil Air Patrol in The rededication ceremony was another
or visit HamiltonDental.com. high school and service reminder of their sacrifice
was always on his mind. and service.
Specialists in: Pediatric Dentistry | Adult Dentistry | Orthodontics | Periodontics | Oral Surgery He showed his resolve to “I believe this was an
be prepared for the Army important way to illus-
by getting in better shape. trate that Hamilton Town-
He was overweight in high ship will never forget the
school when he asked his sacrifices made by these
mother to help him. He local heroes,” Yaede said.
Dr. Michael DeLuca, Orthodontist | Dr. Irving Djeng, Pediatric Dentist | Dr. Kevin Collins, General Dentist dropped from a 44-inch “So that every time some-
Dr. Deolinda Reverendo, General Dentist | Dr. Lauren Levine, Pediatric Dentist waist to 32 by focusing on one comes to Snell and
Dr. Arthur Fields, Pediatric Dentist | Dr. Sidney Whitman, Pediatric Dentist his diet. “That’s how much Wilkus Memorial Park
Two Convenient Locations he wanted to be in the they will be reminded
Klockner Road Office Kuser Road Office Army,” Maria said. that the reason we can
2929 Klockner Road 2501 Kuser Road Vázquez joined the New enjoy our parks and recre-
Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 Hamilton Township, NJ 08691 Jersey National Guard Wilkus ational areas are because
(609) 586-6603 (609) 689-1212 before enlisting in the of the heroes that gave
www.HamiltonDental.com Army after he finished their own lives to defend
at Rider in 2007. He helped new ROTC our freedom and preserve our peace.”
14Hamilton Post | August 2017