From The Sidelines: This Memorial Day, Think of Lance Corporal Michael J. Sellitto

Many of us live on streets named for some person, or part of Montville Township's history, which may well be known to some member of the Historical Preservation Commission, but whose meaning may not be known to the general population. This Memorial Day, I would ask you to reflect on one street that brings the meaning of Memorial Day home to me.

Sellitto Way is a short street off of Pine Brook Road in Towaco. It is a memorial of a kind to Michael J. Sellitto, who served his country as a United States Marine and gave his life in Vietnam, March 26, 1969, a few months short of his 21st birthday.

The Montville VFW pushed for the naming of that street and I was proud to be a part of the day we unveiled the street sign for a son of Towaco and Montville Township, who served his country and gave all. When I spoke, I said I could look at that street sign and put a face to the name and know the person as a friend who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Not a best friend, but a friend in the sense of growing up together in a small community as neighbors and going to school and playing little league together.

I didn't serve. The day Michael Sellitto was killed in action my wife and I were two weeks short of  the birth of our son, but I do remember the sadness I felt on learning of his death.

However you feel about the political choices made by leaders to enter into conflict, the simple fact is that the men and women who serve do so out of a sense of duty, pride, honor and love of country. They don't make the political choices, they respond to the call for service and so should be honored.

So, if you should happen to find yourself on Pine Brook Rd., Towaco, NJ, and you pass Sellitto Way, take a moment to reflect on this young man as well as all the men and women who have made the sacrifices at the call of their country and for our freedom.