The New Jersey Deputy Fire Chiefs Association sponsored an essay contest with the criteria that a student had to visit the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a fire station.  The student was required to tie the two visits together in an essay.

 Kelly Caldwell, a student at Morris Hills High School wrote the following essay:

 The Vietnam War is not remembered as a shining victory for the American people. The men who fought in this war were booed and spit on when they returned to the states. Citizens everywhere were protesting the war when they should have been supporting the troops’ lives.  Thousands of soldiers died, yet people were still protesting.  The Vietnam War Memorial in Holmdel helps illustrate some of the troubles these men went through, but nothing can ever help bring them back.
 
 Visiting the Vietnam War Memorial makes the war that much more of a reality.  Being a teenager, I do not often think about war, or the chance that someone I know could die while fighting.  Right now we have American troops stationed in Iraq , but because it does not directly affect me, I do not spend much time thinking about it.  Visiting the Memorial made me change my ways.  I saw how many innocent young people lost their lives during the war, and how the ones who returned home were not honored and respected, as they should have been.
 
 The Memorial and the Educational center helped me learn a lot about the war, more than I learned in any history class.  I found myself grieving for the loss of these soldiers, though I did not know any of them.  It is a terrible tragedy that so many people died fighting this war, while the rest of America was protesting.  I believe that no matter what battle we are engaged in, no matter what side we are on we should always honor and respect the troops.  They are putting their lives on the line to fight for our country, and they deserve more than respect.  They deserve our prayers and our help everyday.  The Memorial helped me see all of this.
 
The other thing I realized was that firefighters deserve a lot of respect as well.  After visiting the firehouse, I saw how similar firefighters and soldiers are.  Both are risking their lives just to save someone else’s.  They will fight against all odds even if they are trying to save just one person.  These people are dedicated to their work, and always put others before themselves.  I was really touched by how generous and caring all these people are. 
 
The Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial and the firehouse showed me that these people are true Americans.  They deserve our respect and admiration.  They certainly have both of these things from me, and I pray for the men and women of the armed forces who are currently over in Iraq .  I think it is important that everyone be educated about the war and see that these people died fighting for their country, for a good cause.  They were heroic and honorable, and any veterans should be treated with the utmost respect.