Ceremony Honors Students Who Became Soldiers

  BERKELEY – A solemn ceremony was held at Central Regional High School, honoring five soldiers from that school who never made it home from deployment.

  A monument for these soldiers was installed years ago on the school’s grounds between the two major entrances. There’s a stone with each name engraved, surrounded by flags and decorations.

  The JROTC Eagle Battalion came out in force for the service. Five of them lined up in front of the small crowd attending the ceremony: Lt. Col Kaitlyn Ely, Major Giovanni Holguin, Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Stagg, Capt. Anna Pitts and 2^nd Lt. Sophia Pitts. Each of them read off information about one of the soldiers:

  Chief Warrant Officer George Phillip Berg was born July 16, 1946. He joined the Army and was deemed missing in action in the De-Militarized Zone of Vietnam on February 18, 1971.

  Private Robert Edward Church was born December 27, 1946. He joined the Marines and was killed in action in the Quang Nam Province, Vietnam on May 16, 1968.

  Private 1^st Class William Walter Hester was born May 10, 1949. He joined the Marines and was killed in action near the perimeter of Khe Sanh Combat Base, Vietnam on July 1, 1968.

  Sgt. John A. Lyons was born December 4, 1984. He was killed in action in the Ghazni Province, Afghanistan on October 26, 2011.

  Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan, Jr. was born June 29, 1989. He joined the Marines and was killed in action in Boldack, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on November 26, 2012.

  They placed a wreath, saluted each soldier and a statement was made “You are forever in our hearts, always in our thoughts. We honor you today for your service and sacrifice to your country. God bless you.”

  This was part of Wreaths Across America, a national movement where wreaths are placed on the graves of soldiers in cemeteries. This was done at cemeteries in Bayville and other local towns on the same morning as this ceremony.

  The mission of Wreaths Across America is threefold: remember those who were lost, honor those currently serving, and teach the upcoming generation about their sacrifice.