Cranston East JROTC earn wide variety of awards
Recently, the Cranston High School East Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps held their awards ceremony for the 29th Corps of Cadets. In total, there were no less than 48 different forms of awards presented.
“The ceremony honored and recognized the Cadets who excelled academically, possess a high degree of character and work ethic, and or have excelled while assigned to positions of leadership within the battalion,” said Lt. John Murray, master of ceremonies for the event.
Murray called upon the Color Guard, composed of Cadets Miliedy Urizar, Chenda Rivera, Darrien Mora, Jadin Gagnon and Aaron Mickelson, to post the colors while the National Anthem played.
The list of organizations involved included the United States Army Cadet Command, United States Army Recruiting Command, The Sons of the American Revolution, The Daughters of the American Revolution, The American Legion, The National Sojourners, The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry – Supreme Council 33, The RI Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, The Non Commissioned Officers Association, The Reserve Officer Association, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The United States Army Warrant Officer Association, The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, The Military Officers Association, The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, The Rhode Army National Guard, The Military order of the World Wars and The Order of the Daedalians.
“I’d like to thank all those organizations and persons who have made today’s ceremony possible. Without their support, patriotism and love of country, we simply wouldn’t be able to do it,” Murray said.
Murray’s first act was to present a separate award to the school principal, recognizing Sean Kelly for his support of the JROTC.
“This is to certify that Unites States Army Cadet Command has awarded Honorary Colonel of the Regiment status to Mr. Sean Kelly. For exceptionally meritorious support to the Cranston High School East Junior Reserve officer Training Corps program during your tenure as Cranston High School East Principal,” Murray said. “Your understanding for the leadership traits and emotional skills JROTC works to cultivate within high school youth, as well as your appreciation for the program’s value both in and outside the classroom is commendable. Your resolute support of the East JROTC program, along with your commitment to excellence is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon you, your family, and the Cranston public School community.”
“All the Cadets being recognized today have distinguished themselves in some way over the past school year,” Murray continued. “Whether it be their ability and willingness to lead or their quest for academic achievement; all adhere to the tenets outlined in the Army JROTC Cadet Creed.”
Murray said that while the specific criteria for each award being was different, all had a common thread.
“Simply put; the young men and women being recognized today have gone above and beyond our expectations and have excelled as Army Junior ROTC Cadets,” Murray said. “This year, they are recognized as some of the best of the best of the 29th Corps of Cranston Cadets.”
There were three categories of awards being presented. Category I is Company Level Awards, Category II is Individual Academic Achievement Awards, and Category III is Achievement & Leadership Awards.
While Murray read off names and awards, the crowd was enthusiastic and proud for all who were being recognized.
During the Individual Academic Achievement Award Murray acknowledged six special Cadets.
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I’d like to recognize six Cranston East Cadets who have been selected to the prestigious Boys and Girls State Class of 2018,” he said. “Boys and Girls State is a highly competitive program whose mission is to educate selected Rhode Island high school juniors about how the Rhode State government works and then allowing them to participate in the legislative process as a Rhode Island State senator on the floor of the Rhode Island House of Representative.”
Murray said that over the last ten years Cranston High School East has had more young men and women selected to participate in this one-week long course than any other high school in the state.
“I believe we’re over thirty students at this point, and by the way, all have been JROTC Cadets,” he said.
Students recognized were Chenda Rivera, Natalie Butterfield, Serena Mora, Geryl Sophia Vargas, Jesahias Quiroa and Oscar Arteaga.
The last award to be presented, which was the department of the army superior cadet award, was the highlight of the ceremony.
The Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award is a U.S. Military decoration awarded by the Department of the Army and limited to one Cadet at each Leadership Education Level deemed to be the very best for that school year.
This year, the Department of the Army awarded the JROTC Superior Cadet Medal to LET 1 (freshman) Cadet Chriselly Cuadrado, LET 2 (Sophomore) Cadet Mason Harris, LET 3 (Junior) Cadet Serena Mora and LET 4 (Senior) Cadet Samuel Villeda.
In an unexpected portion of the ceremony Cadet Samuel Villeda had a video on the screen asking Cadet Chenda Rivera to accompany him to prom. Fortunately, she said yes.
Colonel Murray closed out the ceremony with the Cadet Corp singing the Army song.
