Congressman Chris Smith held a reception Saturday, June 10 in Monmouth County for a dozen students who recently received appointments to the U.S. military academies. Smith has 12 nominees joining the class of 2021 this fall.  Since elected to Congress, Smith has nominated 229 students who received appointments to a military academy: 40 to the Air Force; 60 to West Point; 48 to the Merchant Marine, and; 90 to the Navy. Smith discussed the importance of the service academies and how they prepare the military for uniformed service, and shared a story of the career of Marine Col. Eric Mellinger, and his recent retirement. Smith nominated Mellinger to the Academy in 1982, and the two men met years later in the Philippines in 2013 after Typhoon Yolanda devastated the island. Mellinger was heading the relief efforts, and was Smith leading a bipartisan U.S. humanitarian delegation. At the reception, held at the Monmouth County Connection on Route 66 in Neptune, Smith greeted the appointees and their families. Col. Charles Henderson, Commander of the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst was a special guest speaker. Colonel Henderson graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with Military Distinction in 1992. PICTURED: From left, Petty Officer Mary Bencivenga (RET), Congressman Smith, the students entering the military academies, Col. Henderson of JB-MDL and Maj. Gen. Tom Garrett (RET).


Smith presented U.S. Flags flown over the Capitol to the appointees:

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Matthew Hanlon

UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Michael Carbone

Christopher Waller

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

Antonio LaTorre

Margaret Lynch

Mason Remondelli

Bonvie Fosam

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

Tyler Bradley

Pablo Loza

Holly Koerwer

Alec Grant

John Salcedo

For more information about the academy nomination process, call Congressman Smith's Constituent Service Center in Freehold at (732) 780-3035.