Politics & Government

Kinnelon Soldier Honored at Arsenal Memorial

Soldiers' families gathered at Picatinny Arsenal to remember their loved ones killed in wars in 2012.

Relatives of Jonathan Batista, a 22-year-old soldier from Kinnelon who was killed in combat in Afghanistan last July, gathered with other families of lost soldiers at the Picatinny Arsenal this weekend to see trees planted in honor of their loved ones.

Batista by enemy forces with small arms fire, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. At the time, he was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Kandhar province of Afghanistan.

The Kinnelon community welcomed home Batista's body before a funeral service at Our Lady of the Magnificat Church attended by U.S. Army generals and elected officials. The soldier was also recently honored during the borough's Memorial Day parade.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Batista was one of eight killed soldiers honored at a special ceremony at the Arsenal on Saturday, according to NJ.com. The families met to see red oak trees that had been planted along the Arsenal base—along with trees for all New Jersey service members killed since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—and to be part of the memorial ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute and color guard.

Picatinny Arsenal Brigadier Gen. John McGuinness told the families it was important to gather each year to remember the sacrifices their loved ones made, NJ.com reported.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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