Anthony Sciametta, a 2011 graduate of Knollwood School in Fair Haven, has joined the special ranks of those commemorated with a photo on the Wall of Honor.

Commissioned and designed in 2011 to honor graduates serving their country in the armed forces, the Wall of Honor is featured in a main hallway at Knollwood School. Anthony’s photo was unveiled at a ceremony held on the afternoon of Dec. 16.

Anthony enlisted in the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in 2015 during his senior year at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH). He graduated from Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Dec. 11 in the presence of his parents Denise and Charlie and his twin sister Stefani. He has been assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Drum, New York and traveled there immediately after his graduation.

Anthony’s parents and sister as well as a group of friends and supporters attended last week’s induction ceremony at Knollwood. These included Wall of Honor co-chairs Betsy Koch, an eighth grade science teacher at Knollwood, and Fair Haven veteran Joe Perrotto, who hosted the ceremony.

Perrotto served his country as a Marine, and his son Matthew, a 1999 Knollwood Graduate, served as a combat engineer in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. Perrotto, who was the Knollwood School Baseball coach for seven years and Fair Haven’s director of Recreation for eight years, said that he knows many of the brave individuals commemorated on the Wall of Honor personally.

Perrotto opened the ceremony by noting that the Wall of Honor is a constant visual reminder that our way of life and freedom requires sacrifices made by individuals.

“These graduates have made the decision to serve their country and as long as this display is here they shall not be forgotten, and their sacrifice and service not taken for granted,” Perrotto said. “More importantly the pride that their families have for them is shared by everyone in our community and at Knollwood School.

“As the current students pass this display and sometimes stop to look at the photos, they will be reminded that the graduates they are looking at once walked the same halls and attended the same classes they did … and hopefully they will have a greater understanding of the sacrifices being made to preserve our way of life!

“It is also important to remember that the graduates on this display are not the only ones making sacrifices — the parents, family, and friends of these heroes will suffer emotional highs and lows as their loved ones serves their country.

“It is with great appreciation and pride that we recognize the photo of our newest hero, Anthony Sciametta!

“May God bless him and keep him safe!”

Anthony is a 2015 graduate of RFH, where he ran four seasons of cross country and was named captain of the team as a senior. On RFH Senior Awards Night 2015, Anthony received the U.S. Army Top Future Soldier Award. This award, recognizing Anthony as central Jersey’s most outstanding recruit, was presented to him by U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Newago.

“We are so proud of our son Anthony and all the other soldiers from Fair Haven that have chosen to serve our country,” said Denise and Charlie Sciametta. “We have been overwhelmed by the show of support from our community. The Wall of Honor is a wonderful dedication to these boys.”

The Wall of Honor was made possible with funding from the Knollwood Student Council and was designed and built by Rick Robbins, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the Fair Haven School District. Currently featured on Knollwood’s Wall of Honor along with Anthony are:

• Craig Cannon, Class of 1984, U.S. Army;
• Shaun Foley, Class of 1996, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Wayne Coy, Class of 1999, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Joel Hyduke, Class of 2001, U.S. Army;
• Michael Humphreys, Class of 2003, U.S. Army;
• Brendan Reiss, Class of 2007, U.S. Army;
• Keegan Finn, Class of 2008, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Brian Truex, Class of 2008, U.S. Navy.

A new addition to the Wall of Honor is a plaque bearing the names of Knollwood School graduates who have completed their service and whose photos were formerly displayed on the Wall of Honor. Made possible by the support of American Legion Post 168 in Red Bank, this plaque features:

• Joshua Zager, Class of 1985, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Scott Beattie, Class of 1991, U.S. Army Special Operations;
• Matthew Perrotto, Class of 1999, U.S. Army;
• Will Miller, Class of 2001, U.S. Army Ranger;
• Bobby DeCanio, Class of 2004, U.S. Marine Corps.

If you know of someone who may be eligible for recognition on the Knollwood School Wall of Honor, please contact Joe Perrotto at [email protected].

— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District