Soldier's family enjoys holiday cheer at party
Freehold Borough PBA provides holiday basket and gifts to couple
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

CLARE MARIE CELANO Freehold Borough Patrolman John Reiff (l) and Patrolman Darnell Esdaile (back) present a basket of holiday gifts to the Connelly family at the annual Family Readiness Group holiday party held at the Freehold National Guard Armory. The presentation was part of an "Adopt-a-Family" initiative undertaken by the Freehold Borough Police Department PBA to help a soldier this Christmas season.

FREEHOLD- This will be a very special Christmas for the Connelly family of Brick Township. Why? Because Spc. Daniel Connelly is home.

Connelly, 36, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard who works as convoy security, returned home from duty in Iraq in October after being in the middle of the war zone for almost a year.

And Christmas is a time for family gettogethers, whether they take place in a home, church, or even the National Guard's Freehold armory on Park Avenue (Route 33).

A holiday event held Dec. 16 was sponsored by the Family Readiness Group of the National Guard. It brought reservists and their families together to share fun, food and a visit from Santa Claus.

The Connelly family received an extra helping of Christmas cheer thanks to the generosity of the Freehold Borough Police BenevolentAssociation. PBAmembers Patrolman John Reiff and Patrolman Darnell Esdaile delivered a holiday basket full of goodies and two large bags full of toys for the family during the armory party.

According to Patrolman Rich Schwerthoffer, the police department wanted to do something special for soldiers for Christmas.

National Guard Bravo Company Commander Capt. Luis Delacruz suggested sponsoring or adopting a family for Christmas.

Schwerthoffer said the PBA was anxious to offer assistance to a soldier who needed some extra help this holiday season.

The family chosen by Delacruz was the Connellys. Daniel and Barbara Connelly have three children, Ciara, 15,Michael, 14, and Madison, 2, who were all on hand at the holiday event. Standing among soldiers dressed in camouflage outfits, the Connellys were presented with Christmas gifts from the PBA that included gift certificates for Wal-Mart, Target and other stores, in addition to a large selection of toys.

"When we were called about this by Capt. Delacruz he asked us how we would feel about it," Barbara Connelly said. "I told him I thought it was beautiful and simply wonderful."

Connelly said she was happy her children would be able have a good Christmas this year. She and her husband were extremely grateful for the wonderful surprises their children were receiving.

Dan Connelly said he is honored, happy and very grateful to receive the gifts from the PBA.

The holiday basket contained Christmas paper plates and cups, kitchen utensils, napkins, tissues, cakemixes, rolls and more. The contents of the basket were compiled and carefully crafted by Schwerthoffer's wife, Lee Ann, along with Lee Ann's sister, Fran O'Brien, and several friends including Gail Maury and Mary Gaffey.

The holidays are all about being together and this particular Christmas party was no exception. Soldiers, their wives and children had fun waiting for the arrival of Santa. But Christmas 2007 for many of these families may have to create enough memories for next Christmas as well because, according to Delacruz, the soldiers in Bravo Company will be deployed to Iraq as early as June.

Delacruz said about 130 men and women of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 114th Infantry Unit, will leave for Fort Bliss, Texas, for training before being shipped out to Iraq for a one-year deployment.

According to Delacruz, this is the first time Bravo Company is being deployed to Iraq. Dan Connelly was deployed to Iraq in January 2007, not because he was ordered to go, but because he felt that he had to go. He did not go with his buddies from Bravo Company, but with another unit, because that is what he wanted to do.

"I joined the National Guard in 2003. I'd rather go into another country and fight in their territory than have them come here and ruin our freedoms and liberties," Connelly said.

Connelly said he is ready to return to Iraq, although he is awaiting word from his doctor about a knee injury.

"People don't realize we have a job to do. I love my wife and my kids. That's one reason I entered the National Guard in the first place, for them, to protect them. I don't want my kids to have to go through this when they're older," he said.

In between his stints as reservist, Connelly works at Jaeger Lumber, Point Pleasant.

"No one really wants to go back in. People say I'm crazy to leave my family again, but it's just something I've got to do. These are my guys. If something were to happen to one of them and I was here, well, I couldn't live with that," he said.

"It's a double-edged sword," Barbara explained quietly.

Connelly was previously deployed for an 18-month tour in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm (1991) while on active duty as a U.S. Marine.

The National Guard's Family Readiness Group had a great deal of help to pull this party off, according to the president of the organization, Shari Madera.

Madera said the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks and many private citizens made the party possible with their generosity of toys and money.Women who attended the party received their own gift bags.

The organization's mission is to provide assistance and support in various forms to soldiers and their families. Madera said the Family Readiness Group, formed in 2004, is there for many reasons.

"We help families get to know one another and provide support to them and they in turn support one another," she said.

Madera said it is sometimes difficult for families to keep paying the bills when a soldier is deployed overseas. Many families must live on less money when the major breadwinner is sent overseas.

"We try to help with bills and utilities if we can," she said.

Barbara Connelly can't say enough about the Family Readiness Group. She became involved with the group when her husband was deployed to Iraq this year. She said members of the group have provided her with support and help - "a shoulder to cry on and to lean on."

"It hard when he goes. It's like being a single mom," she said, adding that the group has provided her with a list of other soldiers who are willing to help out with any number of things, such as home repairs or car repairs, etc.

"I have a call list and they are right here if I need them," she said. "We're no different than any other military family. We have to fill in the gaps and live life without him while he's gone."

She praised Madera and her husband, Sgt. 1st Class CarlosMadera, for their help and support.

When asked how she dealt with her husband's absence and the possibility he may be heading back to Iraq, Connelly replied, "It's what he wants. I knew that when I met him. It's in his blood and I stand by my man. He's doing what a lot of other men won't do, sacrificing time with his family to do what he does. These are his guys. They are his family. And now they are all a part of our family as well."