‘Know that heroism lived right here in this building’ – Winners of 10th Annual Garfield Langhorn Essay Contest announced

Pulaski Street School celebrated the 10th Annual Garfield M. Langhorn Essay Contest today with ceremonies honoring the bravery of Riverhead native Garfield Langhorn, who sacrificed his life in Vietnam during a rescue mission in January 1969, when he threw himself on a live grenade to protect the lives of two injured soldiers.

All sixth-grade students participate in the essay contest, which this year had 272 entries. A committee that includes Langhorn’s mother, Mary, now age 89, read and judged the contest and selected three winners: Reilly Hubbard, of Wading River, in Ms. Paterno’s class; Alisha Griffin, of Riverhead, in Ms. Campo’s class; and Christopher Donnelly, of Wading River, in Ms. Devlin’s class.

Each of the winners read their winning essays and were presented with gifts from the Garfield M. Langhorn Memorial Committee, certificates from the committee and from the Town of Riverhead.

Rep. Tim Bishop exhorted the students at Pulaski to honor the memory of the young war hero, whom he called “an absolutely outstanding young man.” He commended his parents, the Garfield Langhorn Sr. and Mary Langhorn, for his upbringing.

“When you think about the values that one must have, the selflessness that one must have to do what Garfield did, it’s incredible, it’s beyond description. And those values were values he learned in your home,” Bishop told the Gold Star Mother.

“I want you all to remember, to know that when you walk in these halls, know that Garfield walked in these halls. When you’re in the library, know that he studied in that library,” he told the student body. “Know that heroism lived right here in this building, grew up on these streets, the Town of Riverhead and grew up in a very, very special home.

“Let us hope that none of you ever finds yourself in the situation that Garfield found himself in that day in Vietnam, but know that what he did is something that should inspire all of you. Very few are called to the kind of heroism that he was called to and even some that are called to it don’t step up to it. Garfield stepped up to it,” Bishop said.

“Hopefully you won’t be put into a position where you would have to make the choice that he made. But think about what his legacy means to you. Let it inspire you to be a little bit better son or daughter. Let it inspire you to be a little bit better brother or sister Let it inspire you to be a better friend, to be abetter student, to work harder in class, to do your homework better, to set your goals higher, and then work as hard as you possibly can to reach those goals. That’s what Garfield did,” he said. “His life was cut short because of who he was and how selfless he was and how brave he was, but let your life be as fulfilling as it possibly can be because you’re inspired by what he did.”

Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter told the children that “Garfield’s life was a gift from God — a gift from God to the Langhorn family, a gift from God to this community. What Garfield did couldn’t have been done without God’s help.”

Reading from the Gospel of John, he said, “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. That is the ultimate sacrifice. That strength comes from God. That strength comes from the Langhorn family. That strength comes from the community.”

Pulaski Street School music teacher Trevor Hewitt, who is coordinator of the contest for the school, read a biographical essay he wrote titled, “What is a hero?” Read his essay here.

Students, teachers and guests twice rose to their feet to give the much beloved Mary Langhorn a rousing standing ovation.

The Vietnam Veterans of America and Patriot Guard Riders attended the ceremonies. The Riverhead High School NJROTC provided a color guard unit.

Pulaski Street School principal Dave Densieski presided over the ceremonies, which were also attended by Riverhead Schools Superintendent Nancy Carney and assistant superintendents David Wicks and Sam Schneider.