Born to Serve: Avalon’s Memorial Day Speaker a Retired Officer Who Still Serves His Brothers In Arms
It’s hard to fathom the words “heart” or “service” without Patrick Kennedy’s picture.
The litany of superlatives, glowing credentials, and medals that would dwarf the sight of his uniform do describe Avalon’s 2024 Memorial Day speaker. Yet while all portray an exemplary, decades-long career, they only denote deeds.
Beneath those accomplishments lies the conscientious ethic of someone who has served seemingly everyone – the nation at large, the Garden State community, citizens, and veterans – for more than 33 years.
It’s a journey the now-retired Brigadier General of the New Jersey National Guard, may, in retrospect, have been destined for.
“The idea started for me watching my father [Neil] serve in the Air National Guard,” Kennedy says. “Here was somebody I looked up to and idolized. Later, my brother Tim served. Both of them provided a major spark for me.”
The spark would spread through major service areas.
It concerned his countrymen when Kennedy flew combat sorties over the skies of Oman right after 911 with operation Enduring Freedom. Kennedy was involved with the split-second precision his units delivered to refuel combat planes in the air, amid battles. This was an inherently dangerous and complex situation, he recalls, but it was done seamlessly. Kennedy gained a sense of pride helping facilitate the nation’s defense strategy.
It concerned his state’s brethren when Kennedy assisted the massive New Jersey National Guard effort to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Garden State residents in 2021. He was one of three mobilized generals deployed statewide to ensure a smooth process.
Many have praised the crack organization skills the state national guard employed to help millions in 2021. Kennedy was proud not only of his organization but of the public for staying indoors, following directives, and battling the pandemic.
Now, just months after he retired, it’s veterans whom he helps. Kennedy is the superintendent for Veterans Haven South, which provides housing, financial help, and even jobs for needy veterans in Winslow Township.
Some “retirement” for the 56-year-old from Shamong who stepped away from the guard last October.
To use a sports analogy, he recalls championship-level teammates more readily than the individual plays that may have led to a Super Bowl victory.
“What I really capture thinking back was the true sense of honor and appreciation of getting to do all of this with like-minded men and women,” he says. “We all trained hard, always gave 100 percent, and we had a high level of mission effectiveness. Every time I got on an airplane, there was somebody different who had the same level of dedication I did.
“Their discipline was the same. Their commitment was the same. To be around that group of people was incredible. We went to amazing places and difficult locations. We succeeded together. We came from all walks of life.”
And they delivered results, time after time.
Memorial Day in Avalon launches a special week for Kennedy. It brings three major realms of his life together.
Kennedy speaks to a gathering nearly every Memorial Day. Avalon gains the nod this year as Kennedy acknowledges his relationship with Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post 331 in Stone Harbor, which supports his Veterans Haven South facility.
This is an event that removes Kennedy from his everyday focus. It honors the fallen service men and women, underscoring the risk of conflict.
“Memorial Day for me means that we should pay tribute to the Gold Star families,” he asserts, referencing people who have lost a loved one while serving. “I often think, ‘Who are these people we are memorializing? Who signed up for this type of service that ended with this type of price?’
“I think back to the early days of Lexington and Concord, and the farmers who picked up arms against the most powerful Army and Navy in the world,” he adds about the first battles of the American Revolution. “Because of these people, we take an oath for a set of ideas and principles, not a king. It’s important that we honor that.
“This is also a day to appreciate all the freedoms given to us and people around the world because of the ultimate sacrifice paid by these people.”
Kennedy has admiration for the volunteers who signed up after Vietnam, as it involves many people close to his own age. He also carries special respect for those who had no choice, the soldiers who met their obligations after being drafted for six major wars: the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korea and Vietnam theaters.
One day after his address in Avalon, Kennedy and his wife Stacy will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. The couple have two children: son Jarrett, 27, and daughter Kaleigh, 25. Their mother has been a steady force in helping him raise their family, especially when their father has been deployed.
“I would argue that we served together,” he says. “I think all families do. It takes an entire family of support to enable a career like mine, in which I can be called away to do what the nation asks. There are times when your family has to fend for itself in order for you to execute our mission. Stacy is a great partner.”
Jarrett is involved with the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGE Academy. It is a National Guard program, thus the capital NG, and its mission is to be a leadership academy for disengaged youth, helping them become responsible and productive. Jarrett is involved with staff training.
Patrick Kennedy’s post-Memorial Day focus then shifts to another group of soldiers.
Veterans Haven South is funded by the State of New Jersey, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It also is supported by numerous organizations such as American Legion posts, Elks Clubs, and the casino industry.
Kennedy says the center provides transitional housing for veterans for up to 24 months. The veterans get three meals a day and help finding a job for when they leave. Their participation is voluntary.
“This is a great mission,” Kennedy says. “This is veterans helping veterans. These are a great group of people to be around. It’s an opportunity for people who need help to turn their situation around. We help get them on their feet. We really express appreciation for their service. The atmosphere is of the highest caliber of dignity and respect.
“The average age is 59 years old but we have 20-somethings to 80-somethings. Many are Iraqi and Vietnam-war vets.”
There are more than 80 homes at the facility.
For Kennedy, the service realm has come full circle. He drew inspiration from his father and brother, served the country, and then passed the spark to his son.
To many local observers on Memorial Day, Kennedy will be the picture of what a quality human being looks like.
Here is a brief snippet of Kennedy’s career:
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
New Jersey Commendation Medal
New Jersey Ribbon of Honor with three devices
New Jersey Merit Award Ribbon with numeral “30”
New Jersey Desert Storm Support Ribbon
New Jersey Unit Strength Award Ribbon
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,300
Aircraft flown: KC-135A/E/R, T-37B, T-43A
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant: Aug. 8, 1991
First Lieutenant: Oct. 24, 1993
Captain: Dec. 14, 1995
Major :Feb. 25, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel: Nov. 21, 2004
Colonel: Feb. 27, 2009
Brigadier General: June 4, 2019
