Thomas A. Edison Career Academy invited Rolling Thunder®, Inc. to Elizabeth Public Schools and hosted a Chair of Honor ceremony that honors our nation’s Prisoners of War- Missing in Action (POW-MIA). The event begin with remarks by Edison Career and Technical Academy Principal John Markowitz and Rolling Thunder®, Inc. member in charge of POW-MIA Memorials, Elaine Martin. Following their remarks was the presentation of colors by members of the Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy Marine Corps JROTC, with all cadets of the JROTC program present; the Pledge of Allegiance led by Army Vietnam Veteran, Color Guard Member of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National, and Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School Class of 1963 graduate, Specialist Richard Nigro; and the Star-Spangled Banner performed by Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy student Renee Gomez.

Among the speakers at the ceremony were Army Vietnam Veteran and member of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National, Sergeant Gary Domanski who shared about the meaning of service; Navy Vietnam Veteran and member of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National Engineman Joe Kotch, along with member of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Debbie Koch, who performed the Missing Man Ceremony; Army Vietnam Veteran and Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National member in charge of Government and Veterans Affairs, Specialist Gus Dante who introduced Army Vietnam Veteran, Executive Director and Founder of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National, and Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School Class of 1963 graduate, Sergeant Artie Muller; City of Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage who welcomed home Sergeant Muller and Specialist Nigro and thanked them for their service; and Elizabeth Public Schools Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer who presented an Elizabeth Board of Education resolution to Sergeant Muller and Specialist Nigro that indicated Elizabeth Public Schools are committed to revising its seventh through twelfth grade social studies curriculum to include the POW-MIA issue and the contributions of Rolling Thunder®, Inc., especially those of Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical High School Class of 1963 graduates Sergeant Muller and Specialist Nigro.

In addressing the audience, keynote speaker Sergeant Muller shared about his experiences at Edison Career and Technical Academy, in the military, as the Executive Director and Founder of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. before unveiling the Chair of Honor along with his Edison Vocational and Technical High School classmate, Specialist Nigro. The chair was built by students of Edison Career and Technical Academy’s construction technology program. Following the unveiling of the chair, an observance of silence was held  for those service members who did not return home. During the observance, Taps was played by Elizabeth Police Department Detective Freddy Beltran and Amazing Grace was played on the bagpipes by Navy Vietnam Veteran and member of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. National Board of Directors, Machinist Andy Kerr and Elizabeth Public Schools Director of Security Matthew Glackin.

A luncheon was held after the event for the members of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. which was prepared and catered by students of the culinary arts program of Edison Career and Technical Academy under the direction of teacher Paul Conte.