U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander shares stories with Manchester Township Elementary School students Published March 22, 2019 By Tech. Sgt. Ashley Hyatt U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Gordy, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, visited Manchester Township Elementary School (MTES) to speak to the students about the Air Force and answer questions they had about his experiences on March 21, 2019. Gordy spoke to students from kindergarten to fifth-grade at an assembly about service and the sacrifices made by service members and pointed out to the students that their teachers make sacrifices every day as well. The assembly was part of the Medal of Honor Education Program, which the MTES is participating in. The program highlights different values each month, with the value for March being sacrifice. “What better person to have than somebody from the military to come and explain their story to us,” said Linda Waldron, MTES principal, adding that the children enjoy hearing personal stories to better understand what sacrifice and service means. MTES worked for several weeks to put the event together building the students’ excitement each day for the chance to talk to the general. Gordy answered several questions about his career, life in the Air Force, the places he has visited, and even what his favorite aircraft is … the C-130. At the end of the event, Gordy thanked the students for the opportunity to visit their school and stressed the importance of education and encouraging them to continue working and studying hard. “I know that they are just so happy they got a chance to meet Maj. Gen. Gordy,” said Waldron. “He is somebody the children can aspire to be someday.”