Sailor speaks with students

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - After studying citizenship in class, first-graders at the West Freehold School had the opportunity to speak with a recent United States NavalAcademy graduate onMay 27.

Ensign William J. Golden, a former student in the Freehold Township schools, spoke to students in Beth Abrams' class about his experiences in the Navy and the importance ofworking hard to achieve goals.

Abrams invited Golden, whom she taught when he was in first grade, to speak to her students. As he entered the patriotically decorated classroom, students sang "Proud toBe anAmerican"while theywaved small flags.

"Ensign Golden is here today to speak to you about good citizenship,"Abrams told the children. "Hewas a very good student; he always listened and followed directions and lives by an honor concept as we have discussed in class."

As part of their studies and in preparation for Golden's visit, each student created a poster listing the qualities of a good citizen and some read them aloud.

The students also promised to write letters as second-graders when Golden is deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 2009. He is scheduled to be aboard the USS Lake Champlain guidedmissile cruiser as part of a continuing effort to provide security and stability in that region of the world.

"Thank you for this promise; it really means a lot," he told the children.