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WILSON, CAMDEN STUDENTS MAKE HISTORY AT VIETNAM MEMORIAL

(CAMDEN) – Assemblyman Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester) traveled to the New Jersey Vietnam Memorial in Holmdel on Tuesday May 1 to join forty students from the Camden High School Institute for Political and Legal Education (IPLE) and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs.

The students participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor those soldiers from Camden City who made the ultimate sacrifice for their home and country, after touring the Memorial and the Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center. Having done so, the students became the first group to honor the fallen soldiers from an entire town in the history of the Memorial.

The wreath bore the names of the fallen, along with purple and gold ribbons to represent Camden High School, orange and black ribbons to represent Woodrow Wilson High School, and white and green ribbons to represent Camden Catholic High School. After the students laid the wreath, they listed the names of the Camden City fallen, along with their branch of service and the day they were killed in action.

“I am constantly impressed by the initiative of these students, who represent the best and the brightest of Camden High School,” said Assemblyman Wilson. “As a Vietnam Veteran and native of Camden City myself, this project and trip had a special meaning to me.”

The students were chaperoned by Colonel Ross who is the head of ROTC and a veteran himself, Coach Ted Hanson who is the IPLE instructor, and Jim Collins – a fellow teacher. School Board Vice President Martha Wilson also made the trip to join the students in Holmdel.

“I would like to thank Bill Linderman, Executive Director of the New Jersey Vietnam Memorial Foundation, who made this trip possible,” added Assemblyman Wilson. “His involvement and the Vietnam Veteran tour guides who shared their stories with us made this a truly memorable event for everyone.”

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is unique in being the only Memorial and Museum in the country dedicated solely to the Vietnam War Era.