BARNEGAT – For years, Thy Cavagnano has stood before Vietnam veterans with a message rooted in gratitude. A Vietnam refugee, she has long credited those who served with making her life in the United States possible. But for Thy, showing appreciation is only part of the mission.
Thy regularly visits local schools, tailoring presentations for younger children and older students alike. She speaks about the Vietnam War, as well as what happened after. Many of those who served returned home without recognition, without gratitude, and in some cases, without support.
Those lessons have come to life in Barnegat over the past several years in what has become one of the largest and most anticipated Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremonies in the state. This year’s event, held March 27, 2026, brought together veterans, students, officials, and community members for a long-overdue welcome home.
The ceremony is led by founders Thy and Jimmy Cavagnaro, with key partners American Legion Post 232 and VFW Post 10092, along with support from Barnegat Township and the Barnegat School District.
Carrying The Legacy Forward
Specialist William Mares stepped up to the podium with a perspective that bridged generations. A U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who started at Barnegat High School before transferring to Central Regional High School, where he became their Cadet Commanding Officer, Mares stood in a space that was both familiar and deeply meaningful. Not long ago, he had been one of the students in the audience. Now, he returned in uniform, speaking directly to those who had shaped the path he chose.
Mares spoke about service in a way that felt both personal and grounded in respect for those who came before him. He acknowledged that while his generation’s experiences are different, the standard set by Vietnam veterans remains unchanged.
“They set the example,” Mares said, emphasizing that their sacrifices continue to define what service means today.
Jeffrey S. Golden stood as the next keynote speaker. An Operation Babylift baby once known only as “Baby 11,” Golden’s life began in the United States because of the service of the very men seated before him.
He spoke briefly about his path, recalling how he once put on his father’s military uniform and left the house. A stranger told him to take it off because he had not earned it. At the time, it stung.
Golden said he initially enrolled at Penn State, but quickly realized college was not his path. On the drive home to tell his parents, he passed an Army recruiting office and walked in. “I went in and listened,” he said. “And I just knew.”
After telling a bit of his personal story, Golden asked all Vietnam veterans in the room to stand. He walked through the audience, stopping at each veteran to offer a salute and a personal thank you.
It was a moment that brought tears to nearly every eye.
The emotion continued when Thy introduced Golden to Master Sergeant Rene Fougeray, one of the veterans involved in Operation Babylift. The two embraced, a quiet and powerful moment that bridged decades.
A Message That Reaches Beyond The Room
“For me, this is personal,” Thy told the crowd. “You gave me my life here. You gave me my freedom. This is my way of saying thank you.”
Later, Thy shared the impact the ceremony continues to have on the students who participate. “I learned of one cadet from Central Regional High School who decided to enlist after attending our event last year,” she said. “She saw the look of gratitude from the veterans when they were walking through the hall while they were being cheered.”
This year, the impact deepened. “I learned of another cadet who broke down sobbing after clapping and cheering for a veteran who was being wheeled down the hallway,” Cavagnano said. “He was so touched by the warm welcome he was getting.”
“The JROTC instructor told me that his cadets were feeling a lot more emotional about the hallway this year,” she added. “They had really been able to take in and absorb what I had explained to them about what these guys went through. It really punched them in the gut when they saw their own impact just from clapping and welcoming them home.”
Barnegat Students Serve In The Background
Barnegat High School’s Navy Junior ROTC program and the school’s music programs have long played a visible role in the ceremony. This year, however, they still participated, albeit not in person.
Principal Patrick Magee explained that a last-minute directive from Navy officials prevented cadets from participating publicly in uniform due to safety guidance issued just days before the event.
School officials worked with the Barnegat Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the ceremony could proceed safely.
Even without being there in person, Barnegat’s cadets remained central to the event’s success. “Our cadets were in here in regular clothes setting everything up,” Magee said. “They put out the chairs, the flags, everything you see.”
Magee also emphasized that students were not excluded from the event. Those who wished to attend were welcome to do so with their families. Among those participating was Vincent J. Lorenzo, now 13, who delivered the veterans group acknowledgments. In 2022, Vincent was the keynote speaker, forgoing a trip to Disney to honor the veterans.
Music selections were piped in as part of the program, ensuring that the voices and talents of Barnegat students remained part of the tribute. The National Anthem and “God Bless America,” performed by select choir members from Barnegat High School and the Russell O. Brackman Middle School under the direction of Erich Wald, played through the room with a reverence that drew attendees to their feet.
The Barnegat High School Marching Bengals, led by instrumental music teacher and director of bands Daniel McGrath, were also part of the ceremony through a recorded Armed Forces Medley. As each branch’s song played, veterans stood in recognition. Some saluted. Others simply paused, taking in the moment.
McGrath was at the event in person, playing a solemn trumpet solo of Taps. The notes, familiar and unmistakable, echoed through the room, bringing a quiet stillness that settled over the crowd. It was a moment of reflection that connected past and present without a single word spoken.
Traditions That Matter
One of the most powerful moments came during the POW-MIA table ceremony.
Conducted by Cadet First Sergeant Stevie Frame and Cadet Master Sergeant Abigail Wall of Central Regional High School’s Army JROTC, the presentation took place with quiet precision.
Each item carried meaning. The white tablecloth symbolized purity of intention. The red rose represented the bloodshed. The lemon reflected the bitterness of loss. The salt stood for the tears of families still waiting. An inverted glass sat untouched. The chair remained empty.
A memorial flag folding ceremony conducted by Central High School’s Golden Eagle Battalion honored Thomas E. Collins, the founder of the Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum, whose legacy continues to shape how Vietnam veterans are remembered in the community. As the flag was carefully unfolded and then refolded, it was presented Collins’ daughter, Peggy.
Following the program, the gathering continued in a more informal setting.
A mess hall-style reception was held, where veterans, families, and attendees shared a meal together. Food and support services were provided by a wide range of community organizations, offering not only hospitality but access to resources for veterans and their families.
