Asbury Park High School Presents: The True Meaning of Memorial Day

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Asbury Park High School hosted a special event to commemorate the true meaning of Memorial Day by honoring local veterans.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

To honor the veterans, Wilbur V. Martin, Vietnam Veteran, George Reed, Vietnam Veteran, Tina Watson, daughter to Tuskegee airman George Watson, Doris Richardson, who served in Desert Storm, Guatemala, and Iraqi Freedom, Rethel Smith, Vietnam Veteran, and Ken Hodges, Vietnam Veteran, came to Mr. Wronko’s Asbury Park High School class to discuss not only their historical backgrounds but also the true meaning of Memorial Day.

George Reed

George Reed began the presentation telling the students about being a medic and also having George Watson as a friend and a running partner. From there, he gave the students a history overview of the Tuskegee Airmen. This led into Tina Watson’s presentation about her father George Watson and the Tuskegee Experience.

Tuskegee Airmen

Tina Watson (Photo Credit: David Wronko)

Tina shared multiple visuals and the awards her father received which included the Purple Heart and the Congressional Gold Medal. She explained to the students how the Tuskegee Airmen had to battle racism and discrimination to prove who they were which were pilots who had more successful missions protecting bombers than any other fighter pilot unit. Watson also showed clips from the movie Red Tails.

Vietnam Veteran

Rethel Smith

Next, Vietnam Veteran Rethel Smith spoke about his experience. Mr. Smith told the students about his military training and experience fighting the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. He encouraged the students to get educated and further themselves to achieving their life goals.

Doris Richardson

Doris Richardson (Photo Credit: David Wronko)

Once Rethel Smith spoke, Doris Richardson spoke about her experience in Desert Storm, Guatemala, and Iraqi Freedom.

Wilbur V. Martin

Wilbur V. Martin

Once she was done, Wilbur V. Martin closed out the session with explaining the true meaning of Memorial Day. He explained that Memorial Day should be a time when we honor our fallen military personnel and remember their sacrifice so we could have our freedom.

Mr. Wronko’s students enjoyed the presentations and asked the veterans numerous questions.

Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club

On an end note, just recently, Asbury Park High School students furthered their education by attending a Memorial Day Celebration at the Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club.