National Guardsman From Cherry Hill Honored By Township Council

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Cherry Hill High School East graduate who was deployed in Southwest Asia for nine months was honored by Cherry Hill Council Monday night.

Major Samuel Waltzer returned from his deployment in March, according to township officials. He was assigned to support the Combined Joint Task Force.

At the township’s inaugural Independence Day 5K and Block Party, Waltzer presented to the township a flag that was flown over Erbil Air Base in Iraq during his recent deployment.

“Being so far away, I would think about home all the time,” Waltzer said. “I’m just really glad to have the chance to come home safely having accomplished the mission, so I can present this to our township, and we can have it fly here for a long time. We’ve had so much support along the way, and it’s good to know that while we are away, we have so many supporting us here at home.”

He thanked everyone, said it was an honor to serve, and also dedicated the flag to U.S. allies in Iraq and the Iraqi people.

“He’s just so humble in what he does,” said Cherry Hill Councilwoman Sangeeta Doshi, who met Waltzer when they both worked at Comcast.

He joined the National Guard while he was studying political science at Rutgers University, Doshi said.

During his time with the National Guard, Waltzer served during New Jersey’s Hurricane Irene response, and he commanded the 253rd Transportation Company during Hurricane Irma recovery operations in Florida.