School honors former student and fallen soldier

Written by Suzanne Marino Friday, November 09, 2012 01:00 am

Members of the Boy Scout Troop 55 honor guard participate in the Veterans Day ceremony to honor former Jordan Road student Anthony Sausto Monday, Nov. 5.

SOMERS POINT – The Jordan Road Middle School student body headed out the back door of the school Monday, Nov. 5 to commemorate Veterans Day and to remember a former student and soldier.

Right behind the school is Anthony Sausto Way, a street named in honor of former student Army Pvt. Anthony Sausto, who lost his life serving his nation on a street in Bagdad in 2007.

Principal Susan Dugan remembered Sausto as she spoke of a young student like anyone else when she began her teaching career there in the 1997. But unlike any other student she encountered in her career, he chose to put on a uniform and fight for the freedoms that Americans enjoy every single day, she said.

Boy Scouts from Troop 55 and members of Somers Point AMVETS Post 911 presented the colors. Former Jordan Road student Deidre Lynch sang the national anthem to open the ceremony and “Proud to be an American” to close it.

Dugan, AMVETS Cmdr. Jim Donahue and Scoutmaster Rich Heim laid a memorial wreath below the Anthony Sausto Way street sign.

Dugan reminded the students that honoring veterans and honoring Sausto is something to continue every year.

Diedre Lynch, a former Jordan Road student, sings the national anthem.

Principal Susan Dugan, AMVETS Comdr. Jim Donahue and Scoutmaster Rich Heims salute as taps is played.

Scout Jake Babb, 13, of Somers Point and Terry Grau of Somers Point AMVETS Post 911 of Somers Point stand next to the wreath placed at the street sign named in honor of Army Pvt. Anthony Sausto.

Photos by Suzanne Marino