"The real American idols"
VFW post honors lifesaver, volunteers
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 03/12/07
BY MATT PAIS
STAFF WRITER
BERKELEY — For Don Marshall, the news is too often filled with sordid tales of excess and folly, feeding the country's obsession with the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
In contrast to the state of Britney Spears' scalp or the latest on Anna Nicole Smith, Marshall and other members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9503 presented a series of awards yesterday honoring local community members whose community service stands unparallelled, despite the lack of media exposure.
"The real American idols are the ones receiving the awards today," Marshall said.
More than 100 VFW members and supporters turned out for the annual awards dinner to recognize the achievements of local volunteers, teachers and students in the past year.
Among the honorees was a township man who helped pull a brother and sister to safety in the Barnegat Bay in August.
Christopher Fleisher was experiencing trouble with the anchor of a rented pontoon boat when 15-year-old Brittany Hamberger and her brother, 14-year-old George Hamberger, set out to help them. The two teens soon ran into trouble of their own, however, when their rowboat was sliced in half by a passing 42-foot power boat.
Fleisher jumped in the water and helped stabilize Brittany, whose leg was badly injured, and made sure both she and her brother made it safely ashore.
"You just do what you do, I didn't think," Fleisher said. "It worked out great."
Fleisher was presented with the VFW's National Lifesaver of the Year Award for his efforts. Both Brittany and George were also honored for their efforts seven months ago.
William Zappone, a longtime recreation department volunteer, was named by members of the post as its citizen of the year. Citizenship Awards Chairman Cliff Wright said Zappone's tireless contributions to the local softball association, basketball teams and a Christmas drive to answer letters written to Santa Claus have made Berkeley a better place to live.
Zappone himself was humble in accepting the award.
"I don't do it for that, but it is nice to be recognized," he said.
Though he declined to champion his own efforts in the township, Zappone said there is a need for more people to come forward and donate their time and energy to local groups.
"A lot of our organizations — particularly soccer, Little League and football — they're all run by volunteers," he said. "If people don't get involved, they'll die."
Also honored at yesterday's award ceremony was Bayville volunteer fireman Brian Gunnigle. Named as the post's fireman of the year, Gunnigle was recognized for his heroics of Dec. 6, when he saved a woman from a fire in her apartment on Iger Way.
Gunnigle helped break down the door of the home and search the living quarters where he found a victim lying unconscious in her bedroom before pulling her to safety.
Beachwood Police Chief John Wagner was named the VFW's police officer of the year and Beachwood EMS member Debbie Murante was cited as the first-aider of the year.
Susan Pitch of the Seaside Park Elementary School, Christine Karaska of the Ocean County Vocational Technical Institute and Central Regional High School Supervisor of Curriculum Nancy Driber — were also honored yesterday.
Three local high school students received recognition for their entries in the post's annual Voice of Democracy contest. Nicole Spirito won first place, Courtney Guadagno came in second, and Danny DiAngelo was third.
The contest is a 60-year-old audio-essay contest for high school students in grades nine through 12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships nationally. Spirito's entry will now advance to compete with other local winners throughout New Jersey.
The winners of the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest, a scholarship contest for eighth graders, also were announced. Anna Aceto won, Jonathan Kroon took second, and Blaze Earle came in third.