Schools
Eatontown's Vetter School Says Good Bye to Departing Fort Monmouth Families on Flag Day
Margret L. Vetter Elementary School in Eatontown held a memorable ceremony on June 14 to honor the school's military families who will be departing due to the closing of Fort Monmouth.
Flags were waved high at the Margret L. Vetter Elementary School on June 14 as the school honored their departing military families on Flag Day. With the closing of Fort Monmouth in a little over 90 days, the community must say farewell to the families who have made Eatontown their home for many years.
The entire student body turned out waving flags on Tuesday morning to a chorus of patriotic songs. The crowd was addressed by Eatontown School Superintendent, Scott McCue and Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarntolo, and treated to performances by the school band and chorus. Also present were members of the board of education, police department and the principals of all four Eatontown schools.
“I want to thank the military families for the gift of life-experience you have given to the school community,” said McCue. “You will be missed.”
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These sentiments were echoed by the mayor who said, “This is a sad day for Eatontown to lose so many wonderful people. Thank you for being part of the military that we look up to. I can say nothing more than good bye, farewell, best wishes, god bless and we will miss you”
Each of the children in the military families was presented with a commemorative coin by the Eatontown Parent Teacher Organization. The coins had a picture of the Vetter School on one side and the Fort Monmouth arches on the other, bearing the dates 1923-2011.
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Several students read essays that they had written on the closing of Fort Monmouth and what it means to them, including Brina Lloyd who is one of the students moving away due to the closing. She spoke of feeling disheartened to be leaving her friends but expressed her thanks to the school for their support.
It is clear that there is much sadness at the end of this school year as friends move away to begin a new school year elsewhere. McCue said, “The Eatontown community wishes all the military families well, wherever their paths may lead them and hope that they will come back and visit Eatontown in the future.”
