Pennington High School Student Pays Tribute to NJ's Vietnam Veterans at Memorial Day Ceremony

On Monday more than 300 veterans and their families joined the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation (NJVVMF) for its Annual Memorial Day Ceremony in Holmdel, NJ. Welcoming remarks were presented by Jack Tully, NJVVMF Trustee, and Colors were presented by VVA Chapter 200 Color Guard. The National Anthem was sung beautifully byThe RockNRoll Chorus.

The invocation was presented by Joe Formola, Chaplain, NJ State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Ceremony's Keynote Speaker was Brigadier General (Ret.) Vince Stahl, Vietnam Veteran, 5^th Special Forces Group, Past Army Reserve Ambassador-NJ. 

The touching Ceremony included the heartfelt tributes to soldiers, written and presented, by 2013 NJVVMF scholarship recipients Sarah Twomey of Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington and Steven Pennao of Sparta High School in Sparta. The speeches are available on the NJVVMF Facebook page. Each of the winners received a $2,500 college scholarship.

The Ceremony concluded with the day's “In Memory” tributes, which honor those men and women who served in Vietnam, returned home and later died as a result of their tour. Some of these deaths have been attributed to Agent Orange exposure, Hepatitis C and other physical or emotional wounds received in Vietnam. The deaths of these individuals are no less tragic than those that occurred in-country, and their names will be placed on an engraved stone inside the Memorial so that all who visit will know that they are with their honored comrades. Indiviudals honored by their families at the Memorial Day Ceremony included:

• William D. Buist, US Army, VN 1968-1969, Belleville, NJ, 2/16/48-11/17/09
• Michael J. Green, US Army, VN 1966-1968, Harrison, NJ, 9/26-46-12/29/00
• Alan A. Howardell, US Army, VN 1963-1965, Rahway, NJ, 9/25/45-12/11/10
• Daniel L. O'Connell, US Air Force, VN 1966-1967, Atlantic City, NJ, 7/5/45-3/15/11
• Daniel R. Shea, US Army, VN 1966-1967, Lambertville, NJ, 4/28/33-9/23/11

Visit the NJVVMF website for information on applying to the "In Memory" program on behalf of your loved one. The online application and associated information requested should be submitted to: New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 648, Holmdel, NJ 07733.

The In Memory program entails the following:

• An induction ceremony held twice a year, on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day. The family is invited to attend the ceremony, speak about their loved one and receive an In Memory certificate. 
• An engraved paving stone is permanently placed at the ground level of the Memorial where it will remain forever surrounded by fallen comrades.
• A binder including biographical information provided by family members and friends will be placed in the Resource Library of the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center. The binder may include family photos, letters, medal citations, and other pertinent information the family chooses to share. Additional information may be added at any time.

For questions regarding the In Memory program, contact Lynn Duane, NJVVMF Administrator, at lduane@njvvmf.org or (732) 335-0033 x.100.