Story and photos by: LTC (Ret.) Richard Wasserman
BELLEVILLE, NJ — In Army JROTC, cadets are in involved in many community service events during the course of the school year. Belleville High School, in Belleville, New Jersey, is a brand-new Cadet NDCC Battalion and they are starting off on the right foot by getting involved in community events. On December 17th, 9 cadets from this new Buccaneer Battalion participated in a national wreath-laying event. In this event, Americans purchase and donate wreaths to be placed on the graves of veterans. Some of these graves are of soldiers that died in battle, but that is not a requirement. The cadets participated in the laying of wreaths and the graveyard of St. Peters Church in Belleville and Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield.
This was the first time that these students were involved as a group in an event that was something greater than themselves and is one of the myriad of reasons that regular students get involved in JROTC and become cadets. In addition to the placing of wreaths on the graves of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen; the cadets and their SAI placed a wreath on the memorial of WWI Medal of Honor winner, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Fred W. Stockham, who earned his medal posthumously during the Battle of Belleau Wood in France.
Top Photo Caption: Left-to-right Cadet Yeye, Cadet Nelson Ortiz, Cadet Omar Tito, Cadet Donaire, Cadet Revilla, Cadet Amante, Cadet Calle, Cadet Estrella, Cadet Dawoud, and LTC (Ret.) Richard Wasserman
