Having the March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony inside the Barnegat High School gym served a dual purpose. First, attendees could view the proceedings in a comfortable climate as opposed to last year, when the previously outdoor event was held in very frigid conditions.

But according to the event organizer, Thy (pronounced tee) Cavagnaro, holding it at the school also enabled more participation from students, which she has stressed since having the first event in 2018.