Politics & Government

Toms River to Honor Fallen Navy SEAL Friday

Toms River native died while serving in Afghanistan in 2010

Toms River will unveil a new sign on Bay Avenue this Friday that will be dedicated to a Navy SEAL who grew up just blocks away and died while deployed overseas.

Denis Miranda died Sept. 21, 2010 at age 24 while serving in Afghanistan when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was riding in crashed during combat operations, according to a U.S. Defense Department statement released at the time.

According to a Military Times article, Miranda was a 2003 graduate of Toms River High School East and a member of the school's swim team.

The new sign will be unveiled on Bay Avenue, shortly west of Fischer Boulevard, township officials said this week.

Those in attendance for a 12:30 p.m. dedication ceremony will include Miranda’s brother, Kevin, who is on active duty with the United States Marine Corps. Township officials said Kevin Miranda will be on leave this Friday to see the historic dedication to his brother.

Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, will lead the dedication. Councilman Maurice "Mo" Hill, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, will also speak.

Miranda was the third armed services member from Toms River to be killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Marine PFC Vincent Frassetto and Maj. James M. Weis, USMC also died during the wars, and both were honored with a sign dedication located on major roads in Toms River.

The ceremony in Miranda's honor will take place at 12:30 p.m. Friday on Bay Avenue just west of Fischer Boulevard. Parking will be available in the nearby Shop-Rite supermarket parking lot.


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