A senior Picatinny official and the top commander in Iraq joined politicians and local students in honoring veterans during a Veterans Day Observance at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Rockaway Oct. 30.
Picatinny Garrison Commander Lt. Col. John P. Stack, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen and Senator Anthony Bucco all spoke at the event paying tribute to service members.
Also of great interest to the students was a video message from Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multi-National Force - Iraq that school officials played during the event.
Odierno, a New Jersey native, sent the video from Iraq to his hometown. A 1972 Morris Hills High School graduate, he was also his eighth-grade class president at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
During the video message, Odierno explained that freedom is not guaranteed - it must be fought for and defended.
He also encouraged the students to serve their nation, community and schools, reiterating that service does not always need to be in uniform - it can be as simple as helping your neighbor.
"Service is the dedication of your time and talents to the betterment of the community," he explained.
When Stack spoke, he praised veterans for their noble service to the nation, saying that Americans might not be in a position to enjoy the freedoms and the way of life they have today if it were not for veterans' selfless service.
Some veterans from the local community also attended the event.
Salvatore Saccr, a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps and Army Air Force, also worked here at Picatinny Arsenal after World War II as an explosive operator.
Saccr said he appreciated the event and was impressed by the students' efforts.
This year marked the second year the students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School planned and executed the assembly.
The event also contained a parade and a salute to each branch of service, which included that branch's history, current capabilities and service song.
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