Picatinny Honors Fallen Hopatcong Soldier

Dawn Roberts stared at the screen in awe.

Her son, 23-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. Michael D. Kirspel Jr., of Hopatcong, with an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in October. On Saturday morning, Piccatinny Arsenal honored Kirspel and the 13 other New Jersey residents who died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last year.

"When they honor our son, they honor us and our loss and that's important," Roberts said Sunday. "But the main thing is that I'm grateful for the respect they have for our troops, our heroes, our soliders."

The arsenal dedicated 14 red oak trees in the soldiers' memories. Roberts said the intimate slide show the arsenal put together was perhaps more touching.

"I thought that was very endearing," she said. "It was very personal. That really stood out to me. That touched me, how personal it was to each fallen hero. I love that idea."

Picatinny Arsenal has recognized 135 New Jersey residents who died in combat since 2007.  Trees have also been planted in honor of the other 146 service members who have died since Sept. 11, 2001.

Kirspel was also honored in Hopatcong during the borough's Memorial Day parade. About before Hopatcong dedicated to Kirspel and U.S. Army Specialist Four John Curtin III, 22, who was killed in South Vietnam in 1968.