Watchung Hills Invites Community to Military Plaque Ceremony

Watchung Hills Regional High School invites any graduates who are veterans, active duty servicemen and women and also the public to a dedication ceremony on Oct. 29 for a wall plaque honoring all graduates who have served or who are currently serving in the military.

"This plaque will acknowledge the young men and women who have selflessly given their time, energy, and too often their lives so that our freedom is protected," said an open invitation on the school website posted by Terry MacConnell, vice principal.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. that day in the school auditorium, and is open to the public.

The program will  include the Watchung Hills Regional High School Band, noted speakers, and then the unveiling of the plaque.

"If you are one of these graduates or know someone who is, it would be wonderful if you could attend this event," MacConnell said in the invitation.

Those who wish to attend are asked to respond by this Tuesday (Oct. 15) to tmacconnell@whrhs.org.  On Tuesday, he said that respondees would have a grace period in which to notify him of planned attendance.

However, MacConnell stressed that parking is limited, so school officials need to have an exact count to plan accordingly.

Scholarship for graduate killed while Navy Seal in Afghanistan

In another action taken by the school to honor a graduate who became a Navy Seal, teacher Chris Gibson worked with the family of the 2008 graduate, Matt Kantor, to set up a scholarship in his former student's memory after the young man was killed in Afghanistan last November.

Kantor was from the Gillette section of Long Hill Township, Gibson said.

To raise funds for the scholarship, Gibson just last Friday coordinated a golf outing. For further information, contact Gibson at 908-647-4800, ext. 2709, or at cgibson@whrhs.org.