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Memorial Day: Visiting the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, NJ

May 2020May 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Memorial Day: Visiting the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, NJ

(NOTE: This article was originally published long before the COVID-19 pandemic, when a visit like this was encouraged, healthy and appropriate. We thought that during a very unique 2020 Memorial Day Weekend, it would be nice to re-visit this trip to the Paramus, New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.)

Courage is always in style. When Peter Salerno and his daughter Gabrielle had the opportunity to visit the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, New Jersey, it was an offer that they couldn’t pass up.

A veteran of the United States Navy, Peter Salerno (owner of Peter Salerno Inc., the most award-winning North American custom kitchen and bath design firm of the 21st century) was humbled and honored to spend time with the residents of the Veterans Memorial Home. Operated by the State of New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home is a living love letter to those who have sacrificed bravely for the United States.

Peter Salerno visits the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home in NJ.

Peter and Gabrielle experienced an informative, life-changing tour, led expertly by two individuals: Anthony, the Home’s Recreation Director, and Susan, its Volunteer Director.

The mission statement of the Veterans Memorial Homes of New Jersey:

To honor and serve the Military Veteran, their spouses and Gold Star Parents by consistently providing the highest quality of resident directed long term care by maintaining excellence in personal services and treatment through professional collaboration, innovation and dedication; in a setting that promotes dignity and independence…. Our Homes provide a dignified environment to Veterans who have honorably served our country, and are now in need for nursing home services.

The Veterans Memorial Home is a beautiful facility, but the true beauty of the Home is its residents. The oldest residents are 102 years old and are proud veterans of World War II. Meeting these individuals was a privilege that Peter Salerno states he “will never forget”.

The benefits of the Home extend from veterans to their spouses, as well as to qualifying Gold Star parents of military veterans.

After his tour, Peter Salerno signed up to become a volunteer at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Homes. Peter and his family encourage citizens of New Jersey to explore becoming volunteers at these valuable Homes – volunteer efforts are greatly needed, and any amount of time one can dedicate is of tremendous value.

It was a day of gratitude for Peter Salerno and Gabrielle Mayer. Thank you to the volunteers who guided this wonderful tour, the NJ Veterans Affairs Department for housing our invaluable veterans and military heroes, and to the veterans of the United States Military for all they have given our country.

For more information about the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home and all the Homes in New Jersey, please visit the official website of NJ Veterans Affairs.

2020 Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

May 2020May 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

2020 Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and a holiday. It’s a chance to honor America’s military veterans and heroes who laid down their lives for the security and stability of the United States.

There are many ways to remember America’s finest and show honor and respect on Memorial Day. As any great designer will tell you, color can represent thoughts, feelings and emotions beautifully.

With so many reasons to stop and reflect in 2020, this may be the perfect year to really take our time and properly honor our heroes and our history.

The official ribbon color of Memorial Day is yellow. But why? The earliest roots of the tradition tie to the poem “She wore a yellow ribbon”, which has been in existence for roughly 4 centuries. In it, a woman wears a yellow ribbon while waiting for a man she loves to return from a great test or trial. The tradition carried on through Protestant England, where the Puritan Army wore yellow ribbons and sashes during the English Civil War.

Yellow became the official color of the armor branch of the U.S. Army, and was first brought into popular culture by the artist Frederic Remington.

The poem “She wore a yellow ribbon” was updated into song and first published in 1917 as a military marching song by George Norton. However, the yellow ribbon’s popularity and tie to the U.S. military became entrenched during World War II, when the song was re-written and released in the 1949 film “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”. Versions of the song were released by the Andrews Sisters, Mitch Miller and others.

Modern Americans are much more familiar with the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”, although it will surprise many to know it was not written until the 1970s.

What other Memorial Day colors are appropriate besides yellow?

Variations of red, white and blue are always welcome on Memorial Day. We also love the idea of using military shades of green to signify respect and remembrance of American soldiers and military members.

We’ve included six official Pantone colors that we think are great options for Memorial Day.

What colors do you use to observe Memorial Day? Leave a comment!

Memorial Day Design | Official Pantone Colors

Pantone Yellow C

Pantone American Beauty

Pantone Star Sapphire

Pantone Navy Peony

Pantone Star White

Pantone Military Olive

A Salute to Military Veterans & Service on Memorial Day | Peter Salerno’s Navy Roots

May 2019May 2019Peter Salerno Inc.

A Salute to Military Veterans & Service on Memorial Day | Peter Salerno’s Navy Roots

Peter Salerno and his team see Memorial Day as more than a time to celebrate, barbecue and enjoy the company of loved ones. It is a holiday to pause and remember the brave men and women of the United States Military, especially those who sacrificed their lives to protect the liberty, safety and future of the nation in which we are fortunate to live.

One of the most poignant and moving tribute videos we watched this Memorial Day weekend was uploaded to YouTube courtesy of Steve Strauss. A simple and impactful short film, Mr. Strauss’s video encapsulates all the things that make Memorial Day so important: sacrifice, liberty, patriotism, honor, duty and country.

Peter Salerno has been celebrated for his world-class custom kitchen and bath designs for decades. But nothing will ever replace the sense of personal pride and honor Peter feels as a veteran of the United States Navy, graduating from The Citadel and serving his commitment to the U.S. Navy in a tour of Europe and Western Asia. Peter proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy with the 6 Fleet on the U.S.S. Puget Sound, stationed out of Gaeta, Italy.

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As we get closer to Memorial Day we remember our Veterans and fallen heroes | Peter himself is a Veteran of the US Navy | Above is Peter’s first year at The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina in 1975 with Hotel Company |

A post shared by Peter Salerno Inc (@petersalernoinc) on May 23, 2019 at 8:25am PDT

Much of Peter Salerno’s worldly sense of design was formed during his Naval commitment, especially during his time of service in Italy. Upon his return, Peter grew to become one of the most influential custom kitchen and bath designers in the world – but he also returned with a heightened sense of pride, honor, and commitment to this country and its veterans.

Peter Salerno, during his service in the U.S. Navy. Happy Memorial Day! — Peter Salerno (right), during his service in the U.S. Navy. Happy Memorial Day!

This Memorial Day, think about the military heroes and veterans in your life. How have you honored their service and sacrifice? What can you do to ensure their legacies are remembered? It is our civic duty to these brave servicemen and women that we take a moment each Memorial Day (and each day in general) to give thanks for their bravery and valor.

From all of us at Peter Salerno Inc., we hope you enjoyed a blessed, safe and thankful Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

May 2019May 2019Peter Salerno Inc.

Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

There are many ways to remember America’s finest and show honor and respect on Memorial Day. As any great designer will tell you, color can represent thoughts, feelings and emotions beautifully.

Yellow became the official color of the armor branch of the U.S. Army, and was first brought into popular culture by the artist Frederic Remington.

Modern Americans are much more familiar with the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”, although it will surprise many to know it was not written until the 1970s.

What other Memorial Day colors are appropriate besides yellow?

We’ve included six official Pantone colors that we think are great options for Memorial Day.

What colors do you use to observe Memorial Day? Leave a comment!

Memorial Day Design | Official Pantone Colors

Pantone Yellow C

Pantone American Beauty

Pantone Star Sapphire

Pantone Navy Peony

Pantone Star White

Pantone Military Olive

A Tour of the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, NJ

February 2019February 2019Peter Salerno Inc.

A Tour of the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, NJ

Peter and Gabrielle experienced an informative, life-changing tour, led expertly by two individuals: Anthony, the Home’s Recreation Director, and Susan, its Volunteer Director.

The mission statement of the Veterans Memorial Homes of New Jersey:

To honor and serve the Military Veteran, their spouses and Gold Star Parents by consistently providing the highest quality of resident directed long term care by maintaining excellence in personal services and treatment through professional collaboration, innovation and dedication; in a setting that promotes dignity and independence…. Our Homes provide a dignified environment to Veterans who have honorably served our country, and are now in need for nursing home services.

The benefits of the Home extend from veterans to their spouses, as well as to qualifying Gold Star parents of military veterans.

For more information about the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home and all the Homes in New Jersey, please visit the official website of NJ Veterans Affairs.

Memorial Day Tributes: This Year, Say More Than ‘Thank You’.

May 2017May 2017Peter Salerno Inc.

Why ‘Thank You’ Is Just the Beginning on Memorial Day

Thank you for your service. It’s a phrase that has become almost synonymous with Memorial Day (and to some extent, Veteran’s Day) in America. From billboards to TV ads, graphic design to greeting cards, these 5 words are the catch-all catchphrase that stands for a debt of gratitude that American citizens cannot possibly repay.

And so, with so much to be grateful for in a free country, it might be time to ask ourselves: “Shouldn’t we try to say just a bit more?”

This Memorial Day, say more than "Thank you for your service". (Credit: Peter Salerno Inc.) — This Memorial Day, say more than “Thank you for your service”. (Credit: Peter Salerno Inc.)

This line of thinking actually started a year ago, when we met with Peter Salerno, owner of our parent company Peter Salerno Inc. and a veteran of the United States Navy. On our way out of the meeting leading up to Memorial Day, we turned at the door and stated, “Hey – thank you for your service.”

Peter smiled, of course, and nodded his head in a “you’re welcome”. Later that day, we realized that while we meant what we said, Peter was probably going to hear the same 5 words dozens more times over the next several days, and had for decades before that.

This isn’t to say that veterans aren’t happy to hear “thank you for your service”. At their core, most American military veterans are humble, modest, and shy away from personal praise. They’re not looking for individual recognition or to be ‘singled out’ for their heroism and valor.

But just because our military heroes don’t ASK for more than a ‘thank you’ doesn’t mean we shouldn’t GIVE it to them.

Think about your own life – what you do, where you’ve been, and what roles you’ve come to occupy in your life. If you’re a teacher, it must be lovely to get your first few “World’s Best Teacher” gifts. As an actor, your first “Break a leg!” is a cool thing to hear. But after countless repetitions of the same well wishes and compliments – whether we mean it or not – those common refrains start to ring a bit hollow and a bit dry.

It doesn’t take much to put a little more effort into your gratitude this Memorial Day!

If you have a family member, friend, loved one, neighbor or colleague that has served in our nation’s military, take an extra few minutes to find out more about their service, their personal likes and interests. “Design” the military veterans in your life a special show of your thanks – even if it’s as simple as crafting a new way to say “Thank you for your service”.

Take a little time to help a veteran with a project, errand or work around their home. Volunteer to drive an elderly veteran to a Memorial Day Parade or out to lunch. Or do something that’s increasingly rare these days – pick up the phone, send a letter, or make a personal visit.

To the U.S. military veterans and those who gave their lives in service of our country – we know “thank you” isn’t enough to repay you. We also know that you don’t ask for our gratitude, recognition or payment – your sacrifice is selfless. Regardless of why or how you entered the military, the fact remains that you gave of yourselves for the greater good of our country, and you personally protected the freedom and security of families like mine that you will never know or meet.

So this year, we’re choosing not to “thank you for your service”. Because in many ways, we should be thanking you for everything.