Community Corner

Community Remembers Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Army Spc. Jonathan Batista, 22, was killed last year during Operation Enduring Freedom.

One of Kinnelon’s own was honored Monday as part of the area’s Memorial Day ceremony.

Dozens of Kinnelon, Butler and Bloomingdale residents, flanked by 100 American flags, gathered in front of the Kinnelon Borough Hall to remember U.S. Army Spc. Jonathan Batista.

A plaque in Batista’s memory was unveiled at the ceremony.

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Batista, 22, was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed by enemy small arms fire while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Kandahar providence of Afghanistan in July 2012. He joined the army in March 2010.

“I’m always amazed to see how the community comes together. Jonathan was always about including people and bringing them together,” said Erik Gaston, Batista’s stepfather, his voice crackling with emotion. “I think he’d be very happy to bring this many people together.”

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Gaston said Batista was carefree and liked being active.

“I miss playing baseball with him. He was always on the go and always active,” Gaston said. “He never wanted to sit down. He always wanted to do something.”

Kinnelon Mayor Robert Collins asked those in attendance not only to remember Batista’s memory but the memory of veterans who gave “the ultimate sacrifice” for the United States.

“I’m sure there are very few of us [who] would ever understand or comprehend the depth of loss felt by family members of loved ones who saw their solider, their airman, their Marine leave home to fight of our freedom only never to return home,” Collins said.

“What we should and can understand is that their ultimate sacrifice was for each of us.”


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