Helping to honor the sacrifices of New Jersey’s Vietnam veterans, New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone hosted a meet-and-greet with fans and veterans at the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and Museum in Holmdel.
The sold-out event featured photo opportunities, a Q&A session with Boone and concluded with a live auction, which raised $16,500 for the museum and memorial.
“It’s a great honor to have Aaron Boone at our Memorial and Museum, the only one of its kind in the entire nation,” Amy Osborn, executive director of the facility, said.
“We’re grateful for his support, and the proceeds from tonight’s event will go a long way in ensuring the legacy of New Jersey’s Vietnam veterans will be remembered for future generations.”
Former State Sen. Nick Asselta, vice chair of the N.J. Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees and a co-chair of the event, agreed.
“Aaron Boone brought a lot of excitement to the New Jersey Vietnam Memorial and Museum, and our veterans were thrilled to lead him on a tour of the Memorial that has become a second home for so many of them,” he said. “We cannot thank him enough for the time he spent with our veterans and the sold-out crowd.”
Miss South Jersey, Molly Pugliese, kicked off the event singing the national anthem. It was followed by a five-minute film, “Why it Matters,” by Oscar-winner Vanessa Roth, detailing the history of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum.
Boone toured the memorial and museum before taking photos with guests.
He then took questions from the sold-out crowd, recounting his walk-off home run against the Boston Red Sox in the 2003 American League Championship Series and giving his thoughts on the Yankees prospects for the upcoming 2025 season.
He said the front office has done a great job over the winter – pivoting from their Plan A of re-signing Juan Soto to upgrading their starting pitching with the signing of Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried.
Was Boone upset about losing Soto to the Mets?
“Not really, I just didn’t want him signing with the Red Sox and then having to face him 13 games a year.”
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon, who also serves as a Board of Trustees member of New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation presented Boone with a Certificate of Recognition from Monmouth County.
The evening concluded with a live auction of signed memorabilia.
The event’s major sponsor was Greg Valesi, executive vice president of CME Associates.
For more information about the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, click here.
