By Berit Ollestad
Do not be shy when greeting wounded veterans.
That was the message from Brig. Gen. Sean Mulholland at a benefit organized by Morristown firefighters and police to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.
“Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about their injury or injuries,” he said earlier this month. “Don’t feel intimidated and avoid the situation. Contrary to what you might think, they want to talk about their experience. They want to know that they still matter and that they haven’t been forgotten and that people still care.”
More than 360 people went to the Birchwood Manor in Whippany for the dinner, which raised more than $13,000 to help veterans injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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The event was organized by Firefighter Matt Loughlin, a reservist in the National Guard who has served in Kuwait and Iraq, and PBA President Michael Molnar. They were assisted by Police Lt. Robert Holtz, a Navy reservist, and Police Officer Eric Petr and Firefighter Gerry Beston.
Gen. Mulholland serves with the Special Operation Command South at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. His brother, Kevin Mulholland, is a retired Morristown police officer.
Another veteran from New Jersey, Ivan Castro, was scheduled to speak but had a scheduling conflict. Gen. Mulholland described how Ivan, an officer, volunteered to provide front-line fire support for fellow troops even though he was not required to do so because of his rank.
In September 2006, Ivan’s body was riddled with shrapnel. He incurred a broken shoulder, collapsed lung, broken arm, fractured facial bones and ultimately went blind. Two fellow paratroopers were killed.
Ivan told Fox News he is determined to push the limits and continue as a productive soldier in the Army’s Special Forces division. He does not want to sit behind a desk for the rest of his life.
These are the kind of men and women that the Wounder Warrior Project seeks to help.
Gen. Mulholland, a graduate of Morris Catholic High School who pursued a military career because he could not afford medical school, said he “has been blessed to have escaped too many close calls to count” during his Army service.
He said his only regret is that military service keeps him away from his two boys for long stretches. His goal, he said, is to ensure that sons and daughters of others return home safely after fulfilling their missions.
“It’s imperative that we continue to have a hands-on style of leadership in the military,” he said. “I always want to be in a position that I know first-hand what is happening with my guys. I don’t ever want to be in a situation when I can’t explain to a grieving family why I put their loved one in harm’s way. It’s been a privilege to have served along side so many men and women that are as dedicated to their country and to the citizens they serve.”
Gen. Mulholland said he is heartened by a shift in the public’s perception of the military in recent years.
“No longer are we experiencing what soldiers experienced when they returned from Vietnam, when they were ostracized and the country all but turned their backs on us. As more and more information becomes available to the general public, it creates a better understanding of what it is we are doing for our country to keep it safe. It’s essential to provide as much information as possible, without risking national security, to help foster stronger ties between the military and the citizens we serve.”
One of the things that made the dinner special, said Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty, was that it wasn’t about politics.
“It’s about the community coming together to help others when they need it most. It is a great testament to the people who live and work in Morristown,” she said.
One such person is Mike Fahmie, owner of Longfellow’s Deli, a mainstay on Speedwell Avenue for more than 26 years.
“The fire and police have always taken care of me and anytime they ask me for their support, I’m happy to contribute,” he said. “Whenever I take my 6-year-old son over to the fire station, the guys are great by allowing him to check out the trucks and try on their gear. We are fortunate to have these guys serving our community.”
Donations from area vendors and a 50/50 raffle helped make the fundraiser a success. Key contributors included:
- Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 1311
- RTSP Shooting Range, Randolph, NJ
- The Mulholland Family
- Mr. Alan Robinson
- Mr. Jeff Mennen
- AlphaGraphics
- Sona Thirteen
- New York Jets
- Moe Distributors
- Seidner Dentistry
- Colgate Palmolive Inc.
- Grasshopper off the Green
- Morristown Ambulance Squad
- Morris County Sheriff’s Office
- Morris County American Legion
