By MARK KITCHIN Staff Writer
CHESTER TWP. -For members of the American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776, the weeks surrounding Veterans Day are long ones, but worth it if students understand what they did, and why. The various school meetings and events culminated when post members made a trip to West Morris Central High School on Friday, Nov. 14.
There, members met with a select group of students to discuss how military service changed their lives. Veterans’ stories ran the gamut from service during the Korean War to more recent skirmishes abroad. “I think the kids had a great sense of what we do,’’ said Army National Guard veteran Tom Kelly. “We related it to their future. They had some good questions.’’ According to Principal Tim Rymer, the high school has traditionally held an event involving the veterans for the last 30 years with the possible exception of the days during the pandemic.
As it turned out, some visitors were even well known to the students. Mark Stingle, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1990 to 1994, is not a member of Post 1776, but he is the school’s Choir Director. Marine veteran Frank Giaquinto, who served from 2008 through 2012, is member of the post and a Washington Township Police Officer who often visits the high school. Matt Fallon, who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps since 2007, is an alumnus. Also on hand was Rymer’s father, Gary, a Coast Guard veteran. He serves in a Somerset County post. Rymer said one of the reasons the visit is important is to allow those students interested in the military to weigh their options. Only a handful of West Morris students opt to attend the military every year.