The mood at the Barnegat High School gym took on a more somber tone than the cheering at an athletic event March 27 as it was the site of a Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration ceremony.

“Attendance was even higher than last year’s, so I would say it was likely 700,” said Thy Cavagnaro, master of ceremonies and co-coordinator with her husband, Jimmy. “Gym bleachers were maxed out to its 600-person capacity and extra chairs on both sides of the gyms all taken up, with more standing along the sides.