Nine NJROTC cadets, under the leadership of Cadet Peter Brown, once again provided early morning assistance to ensure the nearly 100 veterans who were treated to a day’s fishing on the ocean by Fins for Freedom had a day to remember. All the cadets are juniors at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook and came from throughout Monmouth County for the early morning volunteerism.
The cadets, Ben Koernig, Nick Amey, Christian Percy, Dolan Dunigan, Noah Eckert, Luke Franco, Sal Noone, Waylon Malles, and Ryan McGrath, all were at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor by 6 a.m. Saturday morning preparing to meet with the veterans, help serve them coffee and bagels, and present them with tee shirts and other gifts provided by Fins for Freedom and their sponsors, ensuring all veterans and all captains and mates on the boats volunteered for the day received the gifts.
The cadets also took the time at the Senior Center in the harbor, where the opening breakfast was held, to talk with the veterans and gain more appreciation for the men and women who have served in various branches of the military in the past.
The cadets receive resounding applause from the veterans, captains and crew members as well as the Fins for Freedom team that makes the day possible, with praise for their volunteerism and professionalism in appreciating the service of veterans.
This is the fifth year Fins for Freedom has provided the day for veterans, and the fifth year MAST has provided a team of cadets to help make it the success it always is.
While these ten cadets were at the Yacht Harbor helping veterans, another 19 cadets from MAST were at Bayview Cemetery with volunteers from American Legion Post 141 replacing worn American flags with fresh new American flags on the graves of nearly 800 veterans buried at the cemetery, including one Medal of Honor recipient. This is also an annual volunteer event for MAST cadets.
“We look forward to this day that we plan for throughout the year,” said Fins for Freedom Chairman Mike Minervac, “and we appreciate so much being able to count on these MAST cadets to help make it the success it always is.”
Minervac and his team from the nonprofit organization aimed at showing thanks to veterans for all their service, also thanked once again the sponsors who have made the day possible each year. He, vice chair of Fins Jake Campo and treasurer Dan Brady also praised New Jersey Boats Sales of South Jersey which presented gift certificates to the captains of each boat to help offset their cost of fuel for the trips.
Fins for Freedom is a NJ Nonprofit Corporation organized under the laws of the State in 2023 whose address is 27 Devon Rd., Middletown, NJ 07748. Persons are invited to contact the officers for information on how they can donate, assist or participate in next year’s Fins event.
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The Marine Academy of Science and Technology is a four-year college preparatory program with a thematic, research-based focus on technology and the marine sciences. Located within Gateway National Park, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, MAST is administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District and is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. MAST offers students the opportunity to pursue study in the fields of oceanography, and technology and engineering with a marine sciences theme, and has a military component requiring each student to participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). To facilitate its mission, MAST utilizes a number of technology labs, including a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) lab, a 3700 sq. ft. materials testing and fabrication lab, and a 65-foot research vessel, Blue Sea, which is utilized by all grade levels and sails several times each week throughout the Spring and Fall seasons. MAST also operates and conducts its own research programs out of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, a marine research facility shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the State of New Jersey, which sits directly adjacent to the MAST’s 3½-acre campus. Collectively, these resources provide a learning environment that allows for valid, meaningful scientific research using a wide variety of technologies, helping students become continuous learners with science, math, and technology skills equipped for the 21st Century. The Marine Academy of Science and Technology is a four-year college preparatory program with a thematic, research-based focus on technology and the marine sciences. Located within Gateway National Park, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, MAST is administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District and is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. MAST offers students the opportunity to pursue study in the fields of oceanography, and technology and engineering with a marine sciences theme, and has a military component requiring each student to participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). To facilitate its mission, MAST utilizes a number of technology labs, including a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) lab, a 3700 sq. ft. materials testing and fabrication lab, and a 65-foot research vessel, Blue Sea, which is utilized by all grade levels and sails several times each week throughout the Spring and Fall seasons. MAST also operates and conducts its own research programs out of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, a marine research facility shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the State of New Jersey, which sits directly adjacent to the MAST’s 3½-acre campus. Collectively, these resources provide a learning environment that allows for valid, meaningful scientific research using a wide variety of technologies, helping students become continuous learners with science, math, and technology skills equipped for the 21st Century. The Marine Academy of Science and Technology is a four-year college preparatory program with a thematic, research-based focus on technology and the marine sciences. Located within Gateway National Park, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, MAST is administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District and is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. MAST offers students the opportunity to pursue study in the fields of oceanography, and technology and engineering with a marine sciences theme, and has a military component requiring each student to participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). To facilitate its mission, MAST utilizes a number of technology labs, including a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) lab, a 3700 sq. ft. materials testing and fabrication lab, and a 65-foot research vessel, Blue Sea, which is utilized by all grade levels and sails several times each week throughout the Spring and Fall seasons. MAST also operates and conducts its own research programs out of the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, a marine research facility shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the State of New Jersey, which sits directly adjacent to the MAST’s 3½-acre campus. Collectively, these resources provide a learning environment that allows for valid, meaningful scientific research using a wide variety of technologies, helping students become continuous learners with science, math, and technology skills equipped for the 21st Century.
