RFH Wall of Honor Unveiled — Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

On the cusp of Memorial Day, the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Veterans Appreciation Club unveiled its RFH Wall of Honor in honor of alumni serving in the U.S. military.

The year-long project culminated in a ceremony featuring a key note address by RFH Class of 91 graduate, Rumson police officer and U.S. Army vet Bryan Dougherty. It was attended by current club members, RFH staff, Board of Education members, administrators from both RFH and Fair Haven schools and family members of those honored on the wall.

Sophomore Jackson Champeau’s rendition of the National Anthem set the tone for the ceremony which began outside the front of the high school.

Club president, Tyler Izzo, detailed the vision for the project before passing the podium to Dougherty. In his address, Dougherty emphasized the sacrifice that young Bulldogs make upon enlisting after they leave RFH, the importance of community support and the timeliness of the day’s ceremony, days before the country will memorialize veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

He dedicated his speech to Private First Class Jamie Riley, a Fair Haven resident and RBC graduate, who was killed in service in 2019. Following, Eric Zullo, advisor to the Veterans Appreciation Club, presented each member with a piece of a tattered American flag that can no longer fly donated by Dino Pagano, RFH Industrial Arts teacher, father to U.S. Army First Lt. Logan Pagano and member of Operation Jersey Cares, a veteran non-profit organization.

Before the conclusion of the event, attendees gathered inside the halls of RFH to witness the unveiling of the Wall, currently honoring 15 active duty personnel (listed below). The event was live streamed for invitees that couldn’t attend the ceremony in person.

Club founders Mike Ponenti, James Greeley and RFH Class of 2020’s Mike Cushing proposed the idea of a Wall of Honor to RFH administration last year before the pandemic began, but their planning came to a halt once school shut down.

This September when school reopened, new club officers picked up where the former left off.

The club is currently led by sophomores Tyler Izzo (president), George Kressler (vice president) and Jack Campbell (secretary).

Currently in its third year, the RFH Veterans Appreciation Club strives to give back to the community, and specifically, local military and veterans.

Throughout the year, the club holds fundraisers, organizes events to commemorate military holidays, participates in local community service events, and partners with local organizations to support the military and veterans.

An annual care package drive through a partnership with Operation Jersey Cares has become its largest event. Now that the club’s latest project has come to fruition, updating the Wall of Honor annually by removing and donating pictures to those who are discharged from the service, while adding those graduates who continue to enter the military and serve the country will become another focus.

Current honorees are: