Long Valley Middle School Visit May 4, 2023

 May 4, 2023

WASHINGTON TWP. — The mission for members of American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776 was to deploy to Long Valley Middle School, engage its students, and talk to them about their experiences in the armed forces.

Judging from their work on Thursday, May 4, their mission was accomplished.

The eighth grade classes spent as many as two hours with three groups of four or five veterans who talked about their military life and their different experiences both in the United States and overseas.

It has been a tradition for the veterans to visit elementary schools and West Morris Central High School prior to Memorial Day, although the was a pause during the Covid pandemic.

“It’s very important,’’ said Post Commander Thomas McBride, a former Navy officer. “I’m not sure that they get all the insight we have in school. Fortunately the superintendent and the school board invite us every year, twice a year, Memorial Day and Veterans Day to come to the schools and talk to the kids and tell them about our experiences and answer any questions they might have.’’

It was the first time the veterans came to the Long Valley Middle School for a visit since 2019 and some of the students may have been unaware of past presentations. This year, they visited during state testing week, so their presence did break up the day for some of the students.

“They (kids) love having them come visit and the guys love talking to them,’’ said teacher Christa Smith. “It’s good for them to hear from the veterans about experiences and hear from the different branches (of the armed forces) as well. We also turn it into a community service project. This year they have been bringing in donations for the veterans home.

“Miss (Rachel) Thomas has been collecting a donation of toothpaste and toothbrushes and deodorant and socks and underwear and t-shirts and sweat pants and sweat shirts. The kids have been bringing in all week. We are making cards to thank them from coming in.’’

Not all the questions were about combat, a subject the veterans that did see action usually don’t like to dwell on. One eighth grade girl asked one of the groups if they ever had a “crush’’ while serving. The veterans told her that women didn’t serve prominently in the military then. Chuck Dauchert, a veteran of Vietnam, did inform her what a “Dear John’’ letter was and how soldiers usually recognized when somebody got one and how his comrades would give him support.

The veterans also emphasized how most of them learned skills in the military that helped to benefit them when they came home along with intangibles of discipline and confidence. Some of them still are friends with comrades they met in the service. They also talked about places around the world that the military took them that they would have never visited otherwise or having experiences such as riding a camel if they had not joined or weren’t drafted.

A good example was TonyDeStefano’s brief stay in Egypt and how their group of soldiers visited the pyramids. The soldiers also saw that there was a McDonald’s nearby and that they wanted to eat there instead of at a dinner that was planned by the Egyptians. Protocol prevailed and the soldiers ate an authentic Egyptian meal when and where they were told, but afterwards DeStefano said he drove a bus so some of them could go to the McDonalds.

Overall, both the students and the veterans seemed to enjoy spending the afternoon together.

“We look forward to this,’’ McBride said. “It means a lot to us. It’s important to the town also. We have been doing this for a lot of years.’’

Thirteen veterans in all were part of the event, they included McBride; Don Cable, Navy; Tom Holden, Army; Larry Oppel, Navy; John Kryniak, Army; Ed Twomey, Army; Bernie Schettino, Army; Paul Kolodzie, Navy; Kenneth Short, Army; John Larken, Navy; Chuck Dauchert, Arm; Tony DeStefano, Army and John Wierbowski, Air Force.

Veteran's talk
War stories

Wreaths Across America 2022

On December 17. 2022 the “Wreaths Across America ” program was presented by the American Veterans Association of Washington TWP and the Long Valley Knights of Columbus at St Mark’s Church.

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Observer Tribune

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WASHINGTON TWP. — Citizens once again paid tribute to military veterans during the national Wreaths Across America Program on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Nearly 100 audience members attended ceremonies in the parish hall at the St. Mark the Evangelist’s Parish Hall, where veterans from all branches of the armed forces laid ceremonial wreaths. Afterwards, attendees fanned out to local cemeteries to place American flags and wreaths on a total of 380 veterans’ graves.

Michael Lennon of the Long Valley Knights of Columbus said this year’s event “went very, very well.”

“We had a lot of cooperation from the town,” he said. “We reached our goal in late November. We were able to contribute about 30 wreaths to the drive at Arlington National Cemetery, plus we retained a few in the bank to ease some of the fundraising pressure for next year.’’

Wreaths Across America was brought to the township seven years ago by Sarah Guida as part of her Girl Scout Gold Star initiative. After she left for college at Virginia Tech, the act of continuing it gained support through Township officials, Police Chief Jeffrey Almer, the Long Valley Knights of Columbus and the American Veterans Association of Washington Township 1776 (AVAWT).

There are five major cemeteries in Long Valley where war veterans are buried, the German Valley Cemetery on Coleman Road, the Middle Valley Cemetery at West Mill Road and Beacon Hill Road, the Our Lady of the Mountain Cemetery on Schooley’s Mountain Road, the Pleasant Grove Cemetery on Califon Road and the Old Stone Union Hill Cemetery on Fairview Road. The Union Hill Cemetery is the final resting place of two Revolutionary War veterans.

Wreaths Across America was initiated in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, found his business had a surplus of wreaths. Remembering a boyhood experience from a visit to Washington D.C., Worcester, with the aid of then-Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arranged for the extra wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery.

The practice soon became an annual tribute. It went on quietly for 13 years, with more and more volunteers and organizations stepping up each year to provide and lay more wreaths at Arlington.

Then, in 2005, a photograph of the rows and rows of graves at the national cemetery adorned with snow-covered wreaths circulated on the internet, drawing attention from individuals and groups around the country either wanting to help with the Arlington effort, or wishing to emulate the act of laying wreaths at their national or state cemetery. As a result, Wreaths Across America was created in 2007.

“I take a tremendous amount of pride in taking care of the veterans in Washington Township,’’ said Vietnam veteran Charlie Dauchert of Post 1776, who takes an active role in the event. “It’s very important to make them understand, especially the children, that anyone who wears a uniform in the United States and has given their time, whether they were in the reserves, or regular army, or any branch they have always given their time away from their families, particularly this time of year.’’

The program has also gotten full support from the municipality which considers the event a tradition worth preserving.

“What makes Washington Township so special is that we don’t just get involved with some of these big national issues, we really care about our own,’’ said Mayor Matt Murello, who attended the event. “We care about the people that served in this town that made the ultimate sacrifice.

“That’s what today is about, recognizing people locally and all the people that support the event. You don’t just have the Knights of Columbus and veterans. Every one of those wreaths was purchased by someone privately. You have 300 some odd wreaths purchased at $10 each.

“Every person in this town that purchased those wreaths is making a statement that they support the veterans of this town and that is really what is most important today.’’

The Dec. 18 ceremony was brief and poignant. There was a color guard. Mary Wood Russell played the bagpipes and Maggie Schaffer sang the national anthem. An invocation was given by Army veteran Tim Kelly and opening remarks were provided by AVAWT Post 1776 Commander and Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas McBride.

After a speech by Murello, ceremonial wreaths were presented by individuals who have served in the various branches of the armed forces. Korean War veteran Don Cable presented for the Navy, Bernie Schettino for the Army, Police Officer Frank Giaquinto for the Marines, Lucie Cohn for the Coast Guard, Tom Sanders for the Air Force, Navy veteran John Larkin and cadet Alex Banning for the Coast Guard.

Navy veteran Larry Oppel placed a wreath in memory of Chester’s Larry Maysey, a West Morris Central High School graduate and Air Force member Missing in Action in Laos during the Vietnam War. Army veteran Chuck Dauchert placed a wreath in remembrance of Army Specialist Richard Lacey, a member of his unit missing in action in South Vietnam.

Prior to the wreath placement, Lennon explained to the 100 or so audience members what to do: Place a wreath on the ground in front of a tombstone marked by an American flag, render proper honors if in uniform, say the veteran’s name and take a moment to reflect and remember. After that attendees fanned out to the cemetery of their choice.

Banning, who is a cadet at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, as part of their Strategic Sea Lift and Shipment Program, said young people in Long Valley may have learned from the program to appreciate the veterans sacrifices more than those in other parts of the country. The Strategic Sea Lift program is a reserve program that supplies officers who can man supply vessels for the fleet.

“I love the program,’’ Banning said of Wreaths Across America. “I think it’s great. I’m so happy that so many people in town are honoring the veterans. I think especially this town. A lot of the kids, my friends, and kids I’ve talked to know what it means to be a veteran and know what it means to serve your country.’’

Long Valley’s Egan family, Alexander, Lisa and their children Eleanor, Abigail, Alexander and Elizabeth, were among several families laying wreaths at the Our Lady of the Mountain cemetery on Schooley’s Mountain Road. The Egans usually attend the ceremony although they missed it last year.

“Their grandparents (William Egan, Ronald Hahn) served in the military,’’ Lisa Egan said. “It’s important to my husband and I that they understand as children being raised in the United States of America how important it is to respect those who have served and who gave their lives in sacrifice for us.’’

The event also drew first-time participants, including Long Valley’s Sean and Vance Mahoney were there. They represented Long Valley Cub Scout Pack 136 and laid wreaths at Our Lady.

“I wanted to support all the veterans we’ve lost over the years and everything that they did for our country,’’ said 10-year-old Vance. They protected everybody here and around the US.’’

Now that they have attended the ceremony, the Mahoneys might make it an annual event around the holidays.

“It’s a nice ceremony for everyone to see,’’ Sean Mahoney said. “I like that there were so many kids that came out to the initial ceremony at St. Mark’s.

“The way the Knights of Columbus broke it out for different cemeteries to come out and do this little bit of work to help people remember what the veterans did. I think that it is great thing for the town.’’

Veterans Day Dinner at the Chesapeake Tavern, Long Valley NJ

On Thursday evening Nov 10 , 2022 many of the veterans from post 1776, accompanied by their wives and friends,  had a great complimentary dinner at the Chesapeake Tavern,  Long Valley, NJ.  The Tavern has been doing this for Veterans Day for many years and we greatly appreciate  their generosity.

Washington TWP Veterans Brunch

The Valley Restaurant in Long Valley, Washington Township  provided a breakfast (brunch) in honor of Veterans Day.  Brunch was provided by Washington TWP.  and thanks to the township personnel who helped making this affair a great event.

Visit to West Morris Central High School

Post 1776 started our visit with some refreshments followed by  discussions with the students at West Morris Central High School in classrooms or in main room.

Below is the program  of the days events.

                             

 

Below pictures compliments of:

Kelly Duddy

Teacher of French, History, & ESL

West Morris Mendham/Central