Howell’s Rebel Yell deserves commendation

I am writing this letter to bring attention to an amazing group of young ladies and gentlemen from Howell High School. During the recent holiday season I had the greatest pleasure to accompany Howell High School’s a cappella singing group, Rebel Yell.

These students need to be recognized by everyone, not only in the community and the Free-hold Regional High School Dis-trict, but nationally as well.

On Dec. 18 and Dec. 22 these 30 students and their director, Joseph Cantaffa, sang their hearts out at assisted living centers, senior centers, two hospitals, an elementary school, the PNC Bank Arts Center and a local movie theater.

What amazes me is that you open the newspapers or turn on a television and the lead stories will be of kids in high schools having fights, gang problems, drugs and committing crimes. Well, guess what? These students portray just the opposite. They are caring, giving and extremely well-mannered.

These young men and women have to have their story told for all to see and read about. The members of the group touched so many lives with their talents. You can see this just by the expressions and actions as [their audiences] listen to them sing.

For instance, a patient at the assisted living center never leaves her room, according to her private nurse, but when she heard the group sing, she came out of her room to listen. She was wheeled out, began to smile and her demeanor changed. She even asked the group to sing happy birthday to her, to which they obliged.

The director of the facility came onto the bus after the group finished performing and began to cry and stated, “You don’t understand what you guys did back there for that woman. She lays in bed every day and never wants to leave her room. Your singing to her greatly affected her life, making her feel special.”

I am asking Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser to find a way to honor these students.

The director of Rebel Yell, Joseph Cantaffa, also needs to be commended as well. The time and effort he puts in, with great sacrifice to his family, is so hard to believe.

David G. Held

Howell