thedrifter
01-04-08, 06:08 AM
Air patrol pauses to pay their respects
Friday, January 04, 2008
PEAPACK-GLADSTONE -- The Lone Eagle Composite Squadron of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, located in the Twin Boroughs, took part in a national Wreaths Across America ceremony to remember United States military veterans. At noon on Dec. 15, they led the laying of specially made wreaths for the U.S. Army, Marines Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, as well as for POW/MIAs, at the four war memorials at Liberty Park.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Clayton Rotar, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, assisted Mrs. Robert Larson of Long Valley with the laying a wreath next to the WWII Memorial in memory of those who served and are serving in the U.S. Army.
She did this especially to remember her brother, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Four John William Engeman, who was killed in Iraq on May 14, 2006, when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb.
The other wreaths were laid in memory of those who served and are serving in the other Armed Services by the following. A wreath for all U.S. Navy personnel was placed by 1st Lt. Greg Skinner, Civil Air Patrol, a Naval Reservist and police chief of Peapack-Gladstone.
A wreath for all U.S. Marine Corps personnel was placed by Cpl. Jason Rhodes, United States Marine Corps.
A wreath for all U.S. Air Force personnel was placed by Lt. Col. Howard Leach, United States Air Force, ret., and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.
A wreath for all U.S. Coast Guard personnel was placed by Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Morris, United States Coast Guard, who is also a borough police officer. A wreath for all U.S Merchant Marine personnel was placed by Major Ed Cassella, Civil Air Patrol, Group 221 Operations, and a wreath for all POW/MIAs was placed by Cadet Sr. Airman Erin Guida, Civil Air Patrol, of Port Murray.
The ceremony was led by Long Valley resident Capt. Will McLain V, Civil Air Patrol, the squadron commander, and supported by the squadron's Color Guard consisting of Cadets, 2nd Lt. Arthur "AJ" Herring of Parsippany, Senior Master Sgt. Scott Brookes of Long Valley, Master Sgt. Adam Schuler of Hackettstown and Senior Airman Eric Poluhovich of Long Valley.
The Wreaths Across America story began over 15 years ago when the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, began placing wreaths on the headstones of the nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.
Since then, Worcester Wreath has donated 75,000 wreaths which have been placed by volunteers in wreath-laying ceremonies each December. The Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary, is Wreaths Across America's major partner in this annual endeavor.
The Civil Air Patrol is the all volunteer United States Air Force Auxiliary dedicated to a three part mission of Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services. The Lone Eagle Composite Squadron is part of Civil Air Patrol's New Jersey Wing and meets on Wednesday nights at the Scout Cabin in Peapack-Gladstone.
For more information about the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, contact McLain at (908) 441-2146 or e-mail Mclain81@comcast.net.
For more information about the Civil Air Patrol in New Jersey, visit njwgcap.org.
Ellie
Friday, January 04, 2008
PEAPACK-GLADSTONE -- The Lone Eagle Composite Squadron of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, located in the Twin Boroughs, took part in a national Wreaths Across America ceremony to remember United States military veterans. At noon on Dec. 15, they led the laying of specially made wreaths for the U.S. Army, Marines Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, as well as for POW/MIAs, at the four war memorials at Liberty Park.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Clayton Rotar, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, assisted Mrs. Robert Larson of Long Valley with the laying a wreath next to the WWII Memorial in memory of those who served and are serving in the U.S. Army.
She did this especially to remember her brother, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Four John William Engeman, who was killed in Iraq on May 14, 2006, when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb.
The other wreaths were laid in memory of those who served and are serving in the other Armed Services by the following. A wreath for all U.S. Navy personnel was placed by 1st Lt. Greg Skinner, Civil Air Patrol, a Naval Reservist and police chief of Peapack-Gladstone.
A wreath for all U.S. Marine Corps personnel was placed by Cpl. Jason Rhodes, United States Marine Corps.
A wreath for all U.S. Air Force personnel was placed by Lt. Col. Howard Leach, United States Air Force, ret., and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.
A wreath for all U.S. Coast Guard personnel was placed by Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Morris, United States Coast Guard, who is also a borough police officer. A wreath for all U.S Merchant Marine personnel was placed by Major Ed Cassella, Civil Air Patrol, Group 221 Operations, and a wreath for all POW/MIAs was placed by Cadet Sr. Airman Erin Guida, Civil Air Patrol, of Port Murray.
The ceremony was led by Long Valley resident Capt. Will McLain V, Civil Air Patrol, the squadron commander, and supported by the squadron's Color Guard consisting of Cadets, 2nd Lt. Arthur "AJ" Herring of Parsippany, Senior Master Sgt. Scott Brookes of Long Valley, Master Sgt. Adam Schuler of Hackettstown and Senior Airman Eric Poluhovich of Long Valley.
The Wreaths Across America story began over 15 years ago when the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, began placing wreaths on the headstones of the nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.
Since then, Worcester Wreath has donated 75,000 wreaths which have been placed by volunteers in wreath-laying ceremonies each December. The Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary, is Wreaths Across America's major partner in this annual endeavor.
The Civil Air Patrol is the all volunteer United States Air Force Auxiliary dedicated to a three part mission of Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services. The Lone Eagle Composite Squadron is part of Civil Air Patrol's New Jersey Wing and meets on Wednesday nights at the Scout Cabin in Peapack-Gladstone.
For more information about the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, contact McLain at (908) 441-2146 or e-mail Mclain81@comcast.net.
For more information about the Civil Air Patrol in New Jersey, visit njwgcap.org.
Ellie