Family Of Fallen West Point Cadet From NJ Attend State Of Union – West Orange, NJ Patch
WEST ORANGE, NJ — There was a lot of partisan rhetoric tossed around at the 2020 State of the Union address on Tuesday. But among the many storylines that emerged from the event, there were some that rose above party lines and united communities instead of dividing them.
Such was the case for April Morgan, the mother of fallen West Point cadet Christopher “C.J.” Morgan, who attended President Donald Trump’s speech as the honored guest of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
The fallen 22-year-old from West Orange – whom Sherrill said was “the best and brightest of our country” – died in a tragic armored car crash in June 2019 near the U.S. Military Academy’s summer training site in Orange County, New York. Morgan was entering his senior year at the iconic institution.
“Our entire community grieves with the Morgan family,” Sherrill said, adding that she was honored that April Morgan accepted her request to attend the annual event in Washington D.C.
C.J. MORGAN: AN INSPIRING LEGACY
Morgan, a class of 2015 graduate from West Orange High School, was a standout wrestler who continued his athletic career at West Point. His prowess on the mat was highlighted during a “Senior Night” matchup between the West Point Black Knights and the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at Morgan’s old alma mater last week.
The late West Orange resident’s family and friends were on hand for a tribute at the event, bringing tears to the eyes of his parents, April and Chris, and their other children, Chace, Camryn and Colin, who is following in his brother’s footsteps at West Point.
The Essex County Wrestling Player of the Year award will be named the “Christopher Morgan Award,” in his honor, West Orange school administrators announced at the Jan. 31 ceremony.
Since his death, Morgan’s family has established the Christopher “C.J.” Morgan Memorial Foundation and scholarship fund to keep his memory alive and make a difference in other students’ lives. (Learn more or make a donation)
The fund has already created its own inspirational storyline.
In a touching show of support during last week’s ceremony, West Orange Police Department Captain Mike Cali and wife Theresa presented a $1,000 check to the Morgans for the CJ Morgan Foundation, in honor of their son, Sam, an outstanding wrestler at Rutgers University who died in a 2016 car crash.
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