Remembering Those Who Gave The Ultimate Sacrifice
By The Pennsauken Board of Education: Nick Perry, President; JoAnn Young, Vice President; Osvaldo Alves III, Lisa Eckel; Diane Johnson; Samer John Jarbouh-Rafeh; Scott La Vine; Orlando Viera, and Dontay White; and Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi, MEd2., M.S., M.B.S., M.A.2, Ed.D., Ph.D., Superintendent, Pennsauken Public Schools
On Memorial Day, we come together as a community to honor and remember the courageous men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. In a special way, our District remembers those from Pennsauken who died during military conflicts as members of the United States Armed Forces, including: Terrence P. Allen, Thomas L. Busch, III, John S. DiBenedetto, Michael Egan, James M. Esposito, Matthew J. Henkel Jr., Joseph L. Hesson, III, Frank J. Kohlmyer, Thomas C Miller, Maria I. Ortiz, Richard Patterson, Elmer R. Pease, Jr., Anthony Piersanti, Jr., Harold Russo, and John Edward Tipton.
At Pennsauken High School, we have a permanent reminder of these courageous men and women; and each year, we gather together students, staff, board members, area residents, and local veterans to recognize the true price of the freedoms we enjoy. This year’s Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Alumni Veterans Memorial Plaza, outside of Pennsauken High School, 800 Hylton Rd., on Friday, May 26, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Veterans planning to attend are asked to R.S.V.P. to Bridget Zino at (856) 662-8500, ext. 5285 or bzino@pennsuken.net.
Pennsauken High School’s Air Force JROTC plays a large and important role in this ceremony; from posting the colors, to the solemn folding of the American flag, these cadets take their responsibilities seriously and perform their duties with reverence and respect. Since its start in the 2018-2019 school year, the Air Force JROTC program at Pennsauken High School has educated and trained students in citizenship, promoted community service, and instilled personal responsibility, character, and self-discipline.
The focal point of our annual ceremony is the Alumni Veterans Memorial Monument. Erected in 2016, the Monument sits on the Memorial Plaza, which honors all veterans from all wars who served their country.
The heart of the Monument is dedicated to the men and women of Pennsauken High School who served our country and bears the emblems of the six military service branches.
On the Monument’s left wing is engraved the famous epitaph written by the English poet John Maxwell Edmonds to memorialize the fallen of the Battle of Kohima in April of 1944: “When you go home, tell them of us and say: ‘For your tomorrow we gave our today.’”
On the right wing are engraved the names of those active duty veterans from Pennsauken who sacrificed their lives in service to our country after 1959.
As we look forward this month to the unofficial start of summer, let us also take the opportunity to look back and remember all those who gave their today so that we can enjoy the freedoms our tomorrow brings. We honor those servicemen and women who are no longer with us, and hope in some small way, our upcoming Memorial Day ceremony keeps their legacy alive.
