Jada D’Alfonso was honored by Congressman Donald Norcross and more on June 2 on her front lawn.
By SEAN DEVLIN
The Sun
A veteran came home to her family recently. However, she didn’t know her family was waiting with friends, the fire and police departments, local and state government officials and more at a special ceremony last week.
Jada D’Alfonso, a member of the U.S. Navy, also wasn’t aware that a motorcycle brigade would escort her.
This was all set up by Operation Yellow Ribbon, a South Jersey nonprofit that organizes packages for deployed soldiers and welcome-home ceremonies.
D’Alfonso grew up in Mantua and moved to Winslow Township in 2014.
American flags big and small lined D’Alfonso’s street and the horns of the fire trucks blared as she stepped onto her driveway. She had returned home recently after a 10-month deployment mostly spent in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain.
“This is how we welcome home our heroes in South Jersey,” David Silver of Operation Yellow Ribbon said to the crowd, as more than 50 people gathered on the D’Alfonsos front lawn.
Standing with her husband Christopher, daughter Sierra and son Christopher Jr., D’Alfonso was honored by many groups and individuals.
First was Congressman Donald Norcross, who said, “Isn’t this great? This is what America is about; coming together as one nation.”
Turning to D’Alfonso, he explained that grateful is not a strong enough word to describe how citizens should feel toward veterans.
Camden County Freeholder Bill Moen told the D’Alfonso family and the crowd the Board of Chosen Freeholders has declared June 2 as “Jada D’Alfonso Day.” She was also awarded the Camden County Military Service Medal by the county’s Veterans Affairs office.
Also sharing words of gratitude were Winslow Township Mayor Barry Wright and Henry David of the Jewish War Veterans Post 126.
D’Alfonso’s career in the military started in her mid-30s a few years following the death of her father, an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam.
“He was my best friend. He died in my arms, and I had a very hard time with it,” she said.
Her father passed just shy of 10 years ago of dementia-related causes. A traditional military-style funeral was carried out, and he was buried in Williamstown.
After a 2013 Memorial Day service, D’Alfonso decided to leave behind her career in the world of accounting and see what the military life was like; she made this decision at 36.
“I decided to see what made him the man that he was,” she said. She also sought to honor his memory by serving her country, and joined the Navy in December 2013.
Enlisted as a yeoman second class, a clerical worker, D’Alfonso found herself in Bahrain, Germany, Northern Ireland, Greece and more during her first deployment. However, while she engaged in some administrative work, she was also part of a unit that assisted with laying flight strips and even assisted in flight mission communication efforts.
While she is home now, D’Alfonso says she is on leave from Fort Dix and plans on deploying again soon; she is actively searching for another opportunity.
Of the welcome home ceremony, D’Alfonso said it was unbelievable and she was humbled.
Finding a new sense of life in the military, she says she enjoys the freedom and vast job opportunities offered in the Navy.
Following in her footsteps is her son, Christopher who is now a cadet in the Army.
