Politics & Government
Street Dedicated in Memory of Lacey Air Force Capt. Giglio
More than 150 gather in new development to remember pilot, a Lacey High grad
More than 150 friends and family of Capt. Nicholas Giglio, a 1995 Lacey Township High School graduate, gathered in the new Cimarron Woods development in Forked River last week to dedicate a street in the man's honor.
Giglio, a 32-year-old U.S. Air Force pilot, was lost when his F-16 fighter plane collided with another during a training mission and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off of South Carolina in 2009.
"He was just getting started with his career," said Jerry Giglio, Nicholas Giglio's father. "He would have been deployed to Iraq a week later."
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Jerry Giglio and his wife, Helen, were joined by their friends, family and coworkers, Nicholas' former classmates, township officials and representatives from the developer, Cypress Communities, as the street sign, "Captain Giglio Way," was erected.
"Tracy (Nicholas' sister) wanted to do something for her brother to keep his memory alive," said Jerry Giglio. "Anything to keep his memory alive I'm in favor of."
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Township Committeeman Gary Quinn said after the tragedy, they wanted to do something to honor Capt. Giglio, but there was no bridge or park available at that time.
"The next logical thing was a street," said Quinn. "We were fortunate to have a new development. When this application came before the Planning Board, I brought up the issue of Capt. Giglio. I asked would they do this to show the town is really behind the family."
He said Cypress Communities was very supportive and not only named the street in Giglio's honor but presented the family with a $500 check at the ceremony to go toward the education of Giglio's children.
Quinn said his wife, Linda, knew Nick through working with his mother, who is a special education teacher at Cedar Creek Elementary School.
"This is a way to recognize one of our hometown heroes," said Quinn. "He'll be remembered for years to come."
Capt. Giglio was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. He left behind his wife, Leigh, also a LTHS graduate, daughter Grace and unborn son Caleb.
