Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 11, 2009 Franklin Lakes Ramapo graduate gives borough flag flown in Iraq by Frank J. McMahon Franklin Lakes Mayor Maura DeNicola and the borough council were recently presented with an American flag that was flown over Sadr City in Iraq on Dec. 24, 2008. The flag was sent to the borough by Captain Lloyd Osafo, a longtime resident of Franklin Lakes and a Ramapo High School graduate, who is serving his second tour of duty with the United States Armed Forces in Iraq. The mayor and council recognized his service last November with a proclamation that honored and commended Osafo “for his selfless service to our country, his ready response in our country’s time of need, his dedicated commitment to the well-being of others, and the sacrifices that he has made and continues to make to protect our freedom.” Osafo’s family and friends attended a recent public council meeting, and his mother, Rayna Osafo, presented the flag to DeNicola. A message from Osafo was read for the governing body. In the message, Captain Osafo explained that he chose Dec. 24 to have the flag flown in Iraq “to symbolize that the American freedom was still at work during the holidays and to remind people that Americans are out there in harm’s way, away from their families and loved ones sacrificing to keep that American dream alive.” Lloyd’s father, Frank, told DeNicola and the council Enjoy your retirement, Dad! After 50 years, you’ve certainly earned it... that his son was “deeply touched” by the act of kindness and generosity by the borough, the Ramapo High School students, the Girl Scouts, “and countless selfless others” in sending the care packages to him over the holidays and asked his parents to present the flag to the mayor and council. DeNicola, on behalf of the council and the people of Franklin lakes, also accepted a certificate of authenticity from the Task Force First Battalion, Sixth Infantry Regiment, Charlie First Battalion, and 35th Armored Regiment in Iraq. Please thank Lloyd for us,” DeNicola told his family. “We can’t thank him enough.” Osafo was raised in the Franklin Lakes community with his three brothers, Frank, Elliot, and Brandon. He was an All-American midfielder soccer player at Ramapo High School, helping his team to a share of the Group 3 State Soccer Championship as a senior in 1999. He was a fouryear starter who scored 46 goals with 31 assists in his final two years for the Ramapo Green Raiders. Osafo was being recruited by Division I programs at Virginia and Wake Forest, but opted to enter West Point a year before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack. As an Army freshman, Osafo received his second postseason accolade in 2001 when he was named to the NSCAA’s All-American third team for the New York Region. That same year the Patriot League recognized Osafo selecting him to the conference’s second team. He is the second in command of a company of 100 soldiers and more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles stationed in the Sadr City region of Baghdad. His unit has been working to build a wall around Sadr City and he has been involved in rebuilding the basic infrastructure in and around that city. Wanted: Reliable family Carpenter who will work for Sunday lunch. Four members of the Ramapo High School Model United Nations Club recently attended a conference at Kean University entitled Slavery in the Twenty-First Century. They heard presentations by such leading authorities as Kevin Bales, president of Free the Slaves, and Ishmael Beah, author and former child soldier. The students discovered that 27 million people worldwide are enslaved today, and that 14,500 individuals are trafficked as slaves into the United States each year. They also learned that they could work to end slavery here and around the world by raising money and awareness, pressuring governments, and reporting unusual behavior. Pictured are freshman Samantha Poremba, sophomore Madison Pomerantz, sophomore Julia Klosk, Ramapo Model U.N. advisor Dan Sadowski and freshman Kaitlin McCabe. Ramapo students attend conference 3-11-09-janine-FrankNydam4x9.5(3-11-09)- 4 x 9.5”