The newest inductees into the Robert and Eileen Abbott Military Hall of Honor who were able to attend the ceremony on May 29 included Stanley Maculewicz Jr. (left to right), Kyle Galvan, Gianni Sacca, Andrew Colligan and Raymond-Angelo Rapposelli.
Washington Township High School inducted 12 new members into its Robert and Eileen Abbott Military Hall of Honor on May 29.
During a program led by the school’s Air Force Jr. ROTC Commander, Lt. Col. Beth Ann Lumpkin, the newest inductees included:
- Andrew Colligan, Navy, class of 1993
- Hagen Diaco, Air Force, class of 2022
- Eric Evans, Army, class of 2023
- Jordan Farr, Marine Corps, class of 2021
- Kyle Galvan, Air Force, class of 1984
- Stanley Maculewicz Jr., Navy, class of 2008
- Zachary Marrero, Marine Corps, class of 2018
- Raymond-Angelo Rapposelli, Navy, class of 2014
- Romeo Rapposelli, Air Force, class of 2021
- Gianni Sacca, Army, class of 2020
- Michael Steffney, Coast Guard, class of 2024
- Mark Wetzel, Air Force, class of 1979
Following presentation of the colors by members of the school’s AFJROTC unit, junior Haylie Strafella sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”; Executive Principal Ray Anderson gave opening remarks; and Lumpkin introduced each of the new inductees, several of whom were unable to attend as they are on active duty.
Lumpkin then introduced keynote speaker Aaron Lemons, a retired U.S. Army captain who is currently a counselor at the township high school. He spoke highly of the honorees, as well as those supporting them in the auditorium seats.
“As I look around the room, I see more than just a gathering of friends and family,” he noted. “I see a room full of deep respect and gratitude. Being a proud veteran is a core part of who I am.
“… Serving in the military isn’t just a job,” he added. “It’s a commitment, a commitment to defend, to sacrifice and stand up for others, even when it’s hard. It means long nights, early mornings and a sense of responsibility that never really leaves you.”
“These are the moments that make us very proud,” Anderson said in his remarks. “We get to celebrate our great country. We get to celebrate those of you who are in the military who have done so much for our country and continue to do so much by giving back … Having these moments to celebrate is truly very meaningful.”
After the ceremony, inductees and their families were escorted through the school hallways to tour the wall of honor and see their plaques.
The hall was established in 2004 as a way to honor graduates who chose to serve their country in the military. Located in the 11/12 wing, its inductees are listed by year of selection and in the order in which they were added to the hall. Plaques are positioned in numerical order when entering D-Hall from A-Hall.
The class of 2025 inductees brings the hall’s total number of honorees to 208. It was renamed in honor of Bob and Eileen Abbot in 2023. Bob was a U.S. Army vet and a township board of education member who was inducted as an honorary member of the hall in 2019.
Eileen, also a longtime boarad member, joined her husband as a founding trustee for the hall at its inception in 2004. Both were huge influences on the hall, the AFJROTC program and military and veteran programs in the township and region.
