Dad, Grandpa, Thanks For Fighting for Me

The Mahala F. Atchison School in Tinton Falls held their 13 annual Veterans Day Celebration on Wednesday morning.  The whole school assembled to honor the many veterans who paraded into the school’s gymnasium before the presentation of the Color Guard from the Jersey Shore Leathernecks.  The event is coordinated by first grade teacher Ed Morrows.

The veterans, each an invited family member of a student, sat on a raised stage in front of the school body and enjoyed several patriotic songs and readings by several students including an adaptation of “Americas White Table” written by Margot Theis Raven.  One of the more touching moments was when each child presented a certificate to their veteran family member including grandparents, parents and cousins. 

Monmouth Regional High School student Bryan Figueroa played Taps in honor of those veterans who have passed away and especially Serafino Centrella who had been a part of this celebration for the past nine years.

In addition to honoring the veterans present at today’s ceremony, the students had collected items to be shipped to US soldiers abroad.  They have collected well over 1,000 items, which will be greatly appreciated by the troops away from home.

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