Somerset County VoTech's Proud To Be An American Day Honors Military Members

RARITAN, NJ — Service members and their families were honored May 21 during the 19th Annual Proud to Be an American Day at Washington School Park.

The event was organized by Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School social studies teacher Ed Graf and his students.

The annual program centers on Gold Star families, honoring relatives of service members who died while serving the country.

This year, students prepared and delivered speeches for each of the 15 Gold Star families in attendance. Each family also received a memorial wreath and bouquets of flowers.

Two service members were singled out for honors during the ceremony.

United States Army Staff Sergeant John W. Perry, of Stockton, California, was killed in action on Nov. 12, 2016, in a suicide bomb attack at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Perry warned fellow soldiers just before the explosion and is credited with saving many lives.

He was posthumously promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin L. Sebban, of South Amboy, was also recognized. Sebban, a combat medic, was killed in action in Baqubah, Iraq, on March 17, 2007.

He warned fellow soldiers when a truck of explosives approached his combat outpost and then tried to stop it.

He was seriously wounded, made his way to the aid station, and provided assistance until he died.

He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

The keynote speaker was Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson.

Other speakers included Raritan Borough Mayor Don Tozzi, New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Colonel David Sierotowicz, and SCVTHS alumni U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Edward Cunningham and U.S. Army Captain Robert Bender.

Guests also saw performances by the American Bombshells singers, a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” and the playing of “Taps” by a bugler.

Military vehicles were on display, and two United States military helicopters landed in the park.

Members of the American Legion performed a rifle salute, and a trio of Civil War cannons fired a fusillade.

Two SCVTHS students, Delilah Bergman of Hillsborough and Francesca Boian of Manville, were honored as recipients of the Washington Campground Association Scholarship.

"My gratitude for being part of this program is more than I can put into words," said Boian. "It is much more than an ordinary experience. I am grateful for everything I have learned from Mr. Graf over the years, both in his history class and beyond the classroom."

Graf said, "We’re glad that we can continue to honor the sacrifices of The Gold Star families, veterans, and service members. Our students have done a great job making sure that people remember what our service men and women, and their families, go through so we are able to enjoy our freedom."

All funding for the annual program comes from donations and the efforts of SCVTHS students.