UPDATE Regarding EVENTS

With thousands of like-minded followers, Patriot Connections has been dedicated to providing our veteran, military, first responder and patriot community with a comprehensive resource of events in NJ, PA and the surrounding areas for the last 10 years - including resources for veterans and first responders. Whether it's information on upcoming 5K Runs/Walks, Sporting Events, Job Fairs, Town Hall Meetings, Motorcycle Runs, Ceremonies, Dinners, Dances, Honor Missions, Welcome Homes, Golf Outings, or Resources for our Veterans, Military and 1st Responders. 

November 2021 - Over the last couple of years (including COVID), many events were cancelled/postponed and most organizations have chosen to list their events on social media platforms such as Facebook. Due to decrease in organizations listing their events directly on the Patriot Connection website, we primarily just list events on the Patriot Connections Facebook Page. Feel free to visit our Facebook Page for upcoming events and submit your events there. 

 

 

Cherry Blossoms in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Cherry Blossoms in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

04/30/2017 - 05/12/2017    
All Day
Since 1973 - Kwansan cherry trees have been planted along Chapel Avenue's between Haddonfield Road and Kings Highway - a two-mile avenue of beautiful cherry blossoms arriving every Spring in Cherry Hill. These cherry trees were planted in remembrance of the victims of 9-11 and to unify the diverse community of Cherry Hill in a proud awareness of all that was good and meaningful of the people of Cherry Hill. American flags and yellow ribbons were added to this grand sight of blossoming cherry trees. You can access our website for hundreds of photos and many videos of community presentations honoring our war veterans and community of Cherry Hill. http://www.cherryblossomsincherryhillnj.yolasite.com
06 May

8th Annual Poker Run - Red Knights MC

05/06/2017    
9:00 am
The ride begins at Atlantic County Harley-Davidson, 219 East White Horse Pike in Galloway. Registration is from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Motorcycles go out at 11:00 am rain or shine. Pre-registration is also available online. Pre-register by April 20th and the fee for the rides is $15.00. On the day of the ride the fee is $20.00 for the rider and $10,99 for the passenger. The ride fee includes food at the end of the ride. The first 50 riders to register wil receive a t-shirt. The ride ends with food and a DJ. Proceeds go to The Burn Foundation and The Deborah Hospital's “Gift From Captain Buscio” Cardiovascular Screening Program along with Firefighters and their families. For more information call (856) 982-8872, or [...]
Retiree Activities Office Appreciation Day

Retiree Activities Office Appreciation Day

05/06/2017    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Pass the word; come join the Retiree's Appreciation Day, May 6th from 9 a.m.-1p.m. at the Horsham Air Guard Station, Horsham, Pa. The event will feature speakers on a variety of benefits that directly affect you as a military retiree; Tricare, customer service and AMC Space "A" travel to name a few topics. This event is open to those currently serving and military retirees and their spouses from all service branches. The information session will feature a free light lunch buffet. If you're interested in attending or would like additional information, contact the Retirees Activities Ofice at 215-323-7135 or email vincent.acquaviva.ctr@mail.mil Although registration is requested, please feel free to attend
The 2nd Annual Diversity Law Enforcement Career Fair

The 2nd Annual Diversity Law Enforcement Career Fair

05/06/2017    
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
On Saturday May 6, 2017 Philadelphia Recruitment Unit will be hosting its 2nd Annual Diversity Law Enforcement Career Fair at Girard College, 2000 W Girard Ave Philadelphia PA 19121 from 12:00PM - 4:00PM. Come and meet over 100 different Law Enforcement Agencies across several states.THIS EVENT IS FREE TO EVERYONE. For more information please contact Officer Edward Savage edward.savage@phila.gov 215-685-3026.
1st Annual Beef & Beer - Amer Leg

1st Annual Beef & Beer - Amer Leg

05/06/2017    
1:00 pm
1st Annual Beef and Beer - Amer Leg Blackwood. $20 per person includes food and on tap beer. Cash Bar and additional drinks avail in canteen. See flyer
Basket Auction - Amer Leg

Basket Auction - Amer Leg

05/06/2017    
1:00 pm
Basket Auction - May 6, 2017. No admission fee. 50/50 drawing, doors open at 1pm, drawing starts at 3pm. Large prizes including; Keith Urban Signature Guitar, Yuengling Bar Sign. Lunch special - half hoagie, bag of chips, soda $5. Wear your finest Kentucky Derby Hat Contest
06 May

Annual Pig Roast - AM Vets

05/06/2017    
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
$15 per person. Includes Food and Draft Beer. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Event held at Amvets Post 101 519 June Road Delair, NJ
Kentucky Derby Party

Kentucky Derby Party

Come sip some Mint Juleps, Wear that crazy hat and watch the Race with us!!!
06 May

CANCELLED - NJ Run for the Fallen Fundraiser

05/06/2017    
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
CANCELLED 0 Buffet Beef Dinner - Live Music - Door Prizes - Raffle - 50/50. Tickets are $25 each in advance or $30 each at the door... Children under 16 $12 each... Children under 10 ~ free!​ We are also seeking donations of Baskets/Gift Certificates - if you are able to assist please contact Donna Zabe at 732 513-2004
 


PATRIOT CONNECTIONS DOG TAG PROJECT

The Patriot Connections DOG TAG PROJECT MISSION: Return dog tags that were lost and found to the veterans they belong to or their families. If you believe we may have your dog tag please contact Director of Research/Returns Sue Quinn-Morris at squinn9807@aol.com or 856-495-7270.

THE DOG TAG COLLECTIONS

SOUTH JERSEY COLLECTION – This collection of dog tags (450) journey home began in 1993 from DaNang and China Beach area in Vietnam where they were being sold in shops. Gloucester County Time Reporter Jim Six asked the then Deptford Police Chief Ray Milligan to purchase as many as he could and bring them home, as Milligan traveled back and forth to Vietnam for Operation Smile. He brought back 450 of them and gave them to Jim Six. Over the years several people/organizations worked with Jim Six on returning some of the dog tags. In 2010, he gave the rest to us to try and locate and return the rest of them. With much effort and research, we have located many, completed returns and have more returns underway throughout the United States. 

BOUGOURD COLLECTION - This collection of dog tags began their journey home after British Army/Navy veteran, Aaron Bougourd, received them from the family of Major Thien in 2006. Bougourd had been volunteering for the Father Ray Foundation Orphanage in Thialand when he met Major Thien, and helped him find his lost family in Vietnam. Thien, a South Vietnamese officer living as a refugee. Major Ly Kim Thien was commissioned as an officer of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force in 1964 and served in several capacities throughout Vietnam up until the fall of Saigon in 1975. It was after this that he was sent to a communist reeducation camp, where he was tortured and forced to denounce his anti-communist beliefs. In 1994 he escaped Vietnam on foot through Cambodia and on to Thailand, which is where Aaron Bougourd met him. Thien’s family, as a token of appreciation, gave Bougourd some dog tags they had found at Ben Hoa Air Base. Aaron, a resident of the UK, reached out and sent some of the dog tags to Patriot Connections Dog Tag Project to help return them. Returns are underway. 

SANTAYANA COLLECTION - Touring the Ho Chi Minh trail in 1998, Wall Street trader Manny Santayana stumbled onto a Vietnamese man who made a living out of extracting bombs from the ground, grinding up the metal and selling it for profit. Sometime he would stumble upon dog tags from U.S. soldiers, which he would collect and store in an ammo bag under his bed. Santayana paid him $100 for 105 dog tags and brought them back home.Over the next several years, he was able to make some returns to dog tag owners, but he eventually became too busy to continue with the research. He then enlisted the help of Senator James Beach, who formed a committee for dog tag returns – Quinn-Morris has researched and facilitated returns from this collection. The collection is stored in the NJ State House.

HUTCHINGS COLLECTION - In December 2012, Jack Hutchings, a prominent businessman in Florida,  had been traveling on his yacht in the Solomon Islands. There, the villagers gave him some American WWII dog tags they had found. He brought them home in hopes of getting them returned to the veterans/families. . Upon returning home, he stumbled across a newspaper article in the Orlando-Sentinel about the dog tag return to USMC Vietnam veteran, James Alderman that we did. This prompted him to contact us in hopes that we could located and return the dog tags to the veterans/families they belong to.

MISC COLLECTIONS - From time to time we are contacted by people that have found dog tags and are looking for help in returning them. As long as they are looking to do so with NO CHARGE to the veteran, we do aide them in finding and returning.

Organizations helping with Dog Tag Project The following organizations have and continue to aid with the return of the dog tags nationwide; Nam Knights of America MC, American Legion Riders, VFW Riders, Warriors Watch Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, various American Legion Posts and VFW Posts. Returns have taken place in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, New York, Arizona, Tennessee, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Ohio, Maine, Kentucky, Washington DC, Oregon, Texas, California, Washington and Michigan.

It is essential to the Project that the dog tags are handled and delivered to the veterans and/or their families in a dignified manner.  From the moment the dog tag is handed off, to the moment it reaches the hand of the veteran, the dog tag is well cared for and attended to, to ensure that it arrives to the veteran/family safely. If you believe we may have your dog tag, or a dog tag that belongs to a family member or friend, please contact Director of Research/Returns Sue Quinn-Morris at squinn9807@aol.com or 856-495-7270.

* Over 100 dog tags have been reunited with the veterans/families they belonged to. Please bear with us as we update the dog tag return stories and dog tag lists *