Students Honor Hero Garfield Langhorn

RIVERHEAD, NY — Hometown heroes were honored by Riverhead students recently.

Four Riverhead Central School District Pulaski Street sixth graders won the 13th annual Hometown Heroes Essay contest held by the First Baptist Church of Riverhead in memory of Vietnam War veteran Garfield M. Langhorn.

Avrie Wirth, Zachary Lull, Caden Lesiewicz and Jessica Martinez were recognized at annual ceremony on Oct. 20 attended by Langhorn’s mother, Mary Langhorn, members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 11, members of the First Baptist Church and the Patriot Guard Riders.

The annual contest asked students to write an essay centered on the question, “How can you be a hero in your everyday life?”

The contest was created to keep Langhorn's memory vibrant; students were taught the meaning of the word, "hero" and the life and heroism of Langhorn, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

The essays were judged by community members and members of the Garfield M. Langhorn Memorial Committee of the First Baptist Church in Riverhead.

Photo courtesy of the Riverhead Central School District.