Stanhope’s Valley Road School salutes veterans

STANHOPE — Fanfare and touching tributes were part of the annual “Salute to Honorable Citzenship” at the Valley Road School on Thursday. Students, administration, faculty and staff, as well as members of the community, honored veterans through song, speeches and special presentations.

“I’d like to extend to our veterans a special thank you for taking the time today, but especially for their sacrifices for our freedoms,” said Superintendent Steve Hagemann, who emceed the event.

Hagemann led the presentation to Operation Chillout founder and keynote speaker Deacon Ray Chimileski, presenting him with new and needed items Operation Chillout collects.

The group has been in existence since Dec. 21, 2000, when Chimileski and other veterans learned of a homeless veteran living under a bridge in Dover. The police led the team to the veteran’s fort, where they recognized a distress signal on the way — a small U.S. flag placed upside down.

Read more: https://www.njherald.com/20181116/stanhopes-valley-road-school-salutes-veterans