Board of Ed. gives special thanks to township police BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer HOLMDEL - Township police received a certificate of appreciation from the Board of Education last week for their services at the flag-raising ceremonies at the Holmdel schools this past January. Board of Education members Dr. Ray Tai and Ana Vader Woude, along with Superintendent Barbara Duncan and Assistant Superintendent Mary Beth Curry, presented the certificate to Patrolman John Allen, honor commander for the Holmdel Police Department, Patrolman Thomas Struble and Lt. Leonard Sasso. "I cannot even express the thanks that these men deserve," Vander Woude said. "There was never a moment's hesitation to come out in the dead of January when they were finishing a night shift or it was their day off, and they were there before everyone else, ready to raise that flag." The flag that the honor guard was charged with raising throughout Holmdel in January is the flag of the state of New Jersey, which flew over Camp Adder in Iraq during the month of September. The flag was given to the Holmdel School District from the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion Special Troops Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Alpha Company is the adopted unit of Holmdel Township and the Holmdel Board of Education. "It was an honor and a privilege to be chosen to raise and lower the flag at the ceremonies," said Allen. "Several members of our police department are veterans, and it also meant a lot to them as well." "It was our pleasure to serve our township as well as our country," said Struble, a veteran himself.