Manchester Students Pay Tribute To Local Veterans

(PHOTO: Veterans honored at Manchester Township High School’s Veterans Recognition Ceremony last week pose in the school. Credit Manchester Township School District)

They read poems and proclamations. They played taps and presented a drill team demonstration.

In individual ways, Manchester Township High School students and staff paid tribute to local veterans of the U.S. military during the school’s 11th Annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony last Thursday.

Held separately from Veterans Day so as to avoid conflicts with other ceremonies, the event at Manchester High School included the presentation of colors by the school’s NJROTC Color Guard, the singing of the national anthem by the high school chorus, and readings by students. Cadets Nicholas McGinley and Chase Block impressed the audience with their drill team demonstration, and Alex Torrejos-Holm played taps. Students read proclamations and poems, including senior Patrick Carr, who read his own tribute to the veterans.

Each veteran in attendance was individually recognized and presented with a folder containing an appreciation certificate and letters from students.

This year’s ceremony was dedicated to two Manchester alumni, U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Straube, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. 1 Pamela Smekjal, who also is an Army Reservist. Cpl. Straube graduated in 2009. He was in the infantry and participated in two tours of duty in Afgahanistan. He currently attends school and hopes to have a career in counter-terrorism. Staff Sgt. Smekjal graduated in 1992. During her service from 1996 to 2009, she was stationed in Germany and spent a year in Afghanistan. She currently volunteers with local veterans organizations and is a writer.