Cadet Lieutenant Commander Thomas Clark
His great grandfather served in the 28th Infantry Division, US Army during World War II. His grandparents lived during the Korean War. His parents remember the Iraq War and certainly September 11, 2001, when the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda carried out those suicide attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and the crash in Shanksville, Pa. that prevented even more death and destruction from an enemy. Cadet Lieutenant Commander Cadet Lieutenant Commander
Tommy Clark can cite historic accounts of all those times. To him, they are all history indeed.
Because this teenager, a rising senior at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Fort Hancock, wasn’t born until years after the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were hit.
Clark, more properly recognized as Cadet Lieutenant Commander Thomas Clark, told a captive audience that story at the Memorial Service at Veterans Park across from Atlantic Highlands Borough Hall Monday.
The ceremony was presented by the American Legion, Post 141, and its commander, Peter Doyle, had asked Clark, the Battalion Commander for MAST NJROTC, to say a few words at a ceremony marked with reverence and appreciation for local military from all wars.
“Education is the most critical part of remembrance,” Clark told the crowd. Since he was not yet born on Sept 11, 2001, the cadet said a history class trip to the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York “was an eye opening experience.”
“I did not live through that day,” the cadet said, “however, the museum educated me in a way I will never forget.”
He reminded the crowd they were all gathered there “in solemn remembrance of the heroes who gave their lives so we may be free…..men and women who gave up friends, families and dreams to answer the call to serve.” That was then, he reminded a solemn and quiet crowd, but now, he continued, “with all we have going on in our country today, remembering and celebrating the lives and sacrifices of our nation’s past is more crucial than ever.”
But it should not end there, he reminded his listeners telling them it should not stop at “placing flags on one’s lawn.” Adults have to also think, he continued, “kids younger than myself are constantly being inundated with information about the world. It becomes difficult to know what to believe in.”
For himself, it isn’t difficult, because “I say that the younger generation should believe in that flag and all that it stands for, and all who have given their lives to ensure it stays, flying proudly across the nation.”
The audience nodded assent, and applauded.
But this MAST honor student, class treasurer and former legislative intern for Senator Vin Gopal did not stop there. He gave his spellbound audience his own beliefs. “The best way to pass along information is through stories, sharing history and preserving knowledge in doing so,” he explained, adding had his parents and grandparents not passed along the stories, he would not have even known the heroics of his own great grandfather.
“The most valuable gift you can give someone else is time,” he reminded the Memorial Day gathering, pleading, “if you have a story to share, please share it. Not only that, but just to be sure he addressed everyone, Clark added, “If you are privileged enough to hear a story, please listen.”
Memorial Day may be one day in the year, Clark continued, but “we must live it every day, From their sacrifice we must remember that freedom is not free. For people my age, it is more important than ever to recognize the heroism of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Let us not be overcome with sadness in their remembrance, but rather honor their sacrifice by living each day the best we can.”
A resident of Little Silver, and the son of Joseph Clark and Megan Kelly, Cadet Lieutenant Commander Clark graduated from Markham Place Middle School before going to MAST. He was named Color Guard Commander in April of last year for the top NJROTC Color Guard unit in Area Four which spans states from Maine to Maryland, as well as Spain and Italy.
He serves as a fire cadet on the Little Silver Fire Department Station 23-1 and participates in mock drills to ensure readiness in responding to real-life emergencies as well as training and responding with police and firefighters to aid in running hoses, hydrant s and assisting where requested. As an intern under Senator Gopal, he worked on projects pertaining to pertinent bills in a team environment to accomplish specific common goals, and providing public outreach through aid with the Senator’s constituent services.
At MAST, Clark was Cadet of the Quarter in 2021-2022 and has a 4.0 GPA. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Drill Team, Orienteering Team, Academics, Team, Key Club, with more than 150 service hours, and Joint Leadership Academics Bowl. He also completed the NJROTC Area Four Leadership Academy on board Naval Station Newport, RI last July.
Describing himself as a highly motivated individual who hopes to become a US Naval officer, Cadet Clark’s goal is to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduate with a degree in engineering and pursue higher education towards a masters and doctorate degrees while serving his country and keeping its history and heroes known and respected.
