M'town 5th Graders are History ... Buffs

A couple of fifth graders in Middletown know their history and they know it well. The two know it well enough to take first and third place prizes from the Monmouth County Historical Commission for their essays on the historical importance of places in the township and what they’ve learned about them.

The 2011 first-place essay winner was Michael Nelli of Middletown Village School, whose essay focused on the historic Fort Hancock at Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook (which is in Middletown). His way with words essay earned him a $100 bond. 

“Fort Hancock played an important part for the New York Harbor, preventing the entrance of enemy submarines; to do this, Fort Hancock made larger and more powerful weapons such as Nike missiles and a more modern cannon,” Nelli wrote in his essay. “It meant so much to me that we were able to make such powerful artillery to defend our country.”

“I was very impressed in what I saw at Fort Hancock,” Nelli added. “I got to see the nation’s oldest lighthouse, which is fully restored and open to visitors. They have an awesome observation deck next to Battery Peck, which captivates a great view of the New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline.”

Garnering the third-place award of a $50 bond, Aidan McCann, of Middletown’s Navesink Elementary School, wrote an essay about how his visits to the county’s Hartshorne Woods Park have enhanced his knowledge of the area’s Revolutionary War history.

“It is a pleasure to acknowledge youth who respect the written word through their well-organized thought and well-written sentences,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said. “Monmouth County is rich in history and I am glad to know that our young people are growing up with the desire to visit and to know more about local history.”

Enjoy the Middletown Patch photos of the Hook taken by Linda DeNicola and check out her that appeared in April.