May 22, 2025
Days before Memorial Day, J.E.J. Moore Middle School's students and staff brought the true meaning of the holiday weekend into focus for the Prince George County community through its annual tribute ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the school's memorial garden.
SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr
The event, entering its 13th year, has become a time-honored tradition for J.E.J. Moore Middle School, embraced by the school's entire community as a way to reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms of Americans, including fallen service members from Prince George County and beyond.
The remembrance event takes on special meaning for the Moore community as they take time to remember and honor one of their fallen heroes - Captain Jesse Ozbat. Ozbat was a member of the U.S. Army's 168th Brigade Support Battalion who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan after enemy forces targeted his group with an improvised explosive device attack in 2012. The attack also claimed the lives of fellow soldier Tobias Alexander and an interpreter paired with the group.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Gathered just outside the entrance of J.E.J. Moore Middle School, the ceremony featured musical performances by the school's Royal Band and choir, led by John Redling and Travis Krickovic, respectively, and original poetry by the school's 6th and 7th graders that honed in on the themes of the holiday - service, sacrifice, and remembrance.
This year's speaker was a familiar face to the Moore community and the Ozbat family, recently retired social studies teacher and veteran Mr. Rodney Leary. The former infantry special forces member-turned-educator used his lessons in the classroom to inspire students to engage in community service, such as tending to the school’s memorial gardens, and remembering the fallen. Channeling his nearly 30 years in education, Mr. Leary’s remarks spoke of the origins of Memorial Day as we know and its meaning beyond just another day on the calendar.
“Three years after the Civil War ended on May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic established ‘Decoration Day’ as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the dead with flowers, with General John A. Logan declaring it should be held on May 30,” the former history teacher shared. “It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery and, after various leaders spoke, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns."
It wouldn’t be until after World War I that the day of remembrance was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars, with Memorial Day being declared a national holiday in 1971 through an act of Congress, though its origins as “Decoration Day” remain even now.
For Mr. Leary, the event’s significance holds a special place in his heart both as a veteran and an educator, having taught both Jesse Ozbat and his widow Danielle as students at Prince George HIgh School. As students held banners with the images of Capt. Ozbat, Sgt. Lawrence G. Sprader, and PFC Freddie Crockett, just a few local soldiers made the most ultimate sacrifice for America, Mr. Leary left the audience with an important reminder as the holiday approaches.
“Our veterans know when you lose a soldier, there’s an impact,” Mr. Leary shared. “If you knew them personally, it impacts even more. Memorial Day may be thought of as a sign the school year is nearly over, or an extended weekend. Keep in mind the history of ‘Decoration Day’ and what it means to our nation, the Ozbat family, and all of our Gold Star families. This ceremony is for all Americans, but especially the veterans who have made many things we take for granted possible.”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The remarks were followed by a check presentation and donation to the John Randolph Foundation, facilitators of the Captain Jesse Ozbat "Honor Above All" Scholarship, a program that offers scholarship opportunities to Prince George High School students who are interested in joining the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the college level. This year, $3,836 was contributed to the scholarship, thanks to contributions from a variety of sources, including fundraising from local schools and donations from organizations such as the Prince George Nutrition Services Organization.
“May we never take for granted the price of our freedom,” Jamie Westbay, former L.L. Beazley Elementary School librarian remarked. “May we continue to honor our fallen, not just in this ceremony, but in how we live, how we serve, and how we remember.”
SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr
One of the most stirring portions of the ceremony featured Moore students Scarlet Krile and Zafirah Owusu reading the names of over 50 fallen Prince George County service members dating back to World War I, all while the school's honor detachment reverently placed a single American flag in the memorial garden for each. A quiet breeze would carry over the ceremony as Moore student Kayleigh Ackerman performed "Taps" just outside the gardens, each note resonating across the audience as those assembled reflected on the gravity of Memorial Day, and a charge to say their names and allow the memory of those lost in defense of our freedoms to be remembered every day.
To learn more about the Captain Jesse Ozbat "Honor Above All" Endowed Scholarship, visit The John Randolph Foundation website at https://johnrandolphfoundation.org/scholarships/.