Local Veterans Award Inaugural 'Fallen Hero Scholarship' To West Morris Central Grad

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A newly-established scholarship by a Washington Township veterans' group encourages West Morris Central students to remember and honor the sacrifice of fallen military members.

The American Veterans Association of Washington Township (AVAWT), Post 1776, announced that they have awarded the inaugural Fallen Hero Scholarship to Christopher Fahrman, a graduating senior from WMCHS.

The goal of this $1,000 scholarship "is to increase student knowledge of, and appreciation for, the role of military service and sacrifice," AVAWT members said in a news release.

Applicants were asked to write a 500-word essay which honors and captures the sacrifice made by a fallen veteran.

Fahrman based his essay on John L. Lindaberry of Long Valley, a 1966 graduate of West Morris Central. Lindaberry was killed in action seven months after he graduated, while serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Lindaberry was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge after his death, and was only 19 years old when he died — the same age as Fahrman, the AVAWT noted.

Fahrman is planning to attend Virginia Tech University and pursue a degree in Political Science. His essay will be memorialized on the West Morris Central Wall of Honor, which commemorates fallen veterans who graduated from the high school.

Thomas McBride, Commander of Post 1776, AVAWT, presented the award on May 29 during a ceremony held at the high school.

“The veterans of the AVAWT are honored to make our inaugural scholarship award to Chris," McBride said. "The sentiments he expressed in his essay about John Lindaberry were inspiring, and captured how costly a sacrifice fallen heroes place in service to their country."

This scholarship was funded in part by proceeds from the 2023 West Morris Central Memorial 5K Turkey Trot, the school said.