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

To honor the veterans, Mr. David Wronko had 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, come to his Asbury Park High School class to discuss not only their historical backgrounds but also the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

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.

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 ultimate pilots who had more successful missions protecting bombers than any other fighter pilot unit.

After her presentation which also consisted of showing clips from the movie Red Tails, 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.

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

Wilbur V. Martin

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.

Also I just want to take a note of the beam that was displayed for remembering those on 9/11.