Members of the Gordon Central JROTC complete a saber arch over Veterans during the first Gordon Central Veterans Day Ceremony, Friday, Nov. 9. See page 6B for a letter of thanks from a Veteran who attended this event.
Individual Gordon Central JROTC students personally invited veterans to attend the ceremony which included a light breakfast buffet.
Next, the veterans were shown to the Gordon Central gymnasium where JROTC cadets presented a saber arch for the veterans to pass through. Students in the gym greeted the veterans with strong applause as they traveled through the arch.
The ceremony was a first, and coincided with the first Wounded Warrior Challenge, which raised $500 to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Both programs were a success, according to Gordon Central Senior JROTC instructor, Col. Mike Mansi, who credits his students with completing most of the necessary work.
“JROTC is supposed to be a student lead program. We could do all the planning ourselves, but what we really want to do is teach the students how to plan long term goals, things to consider, ramifications,” said Mansi. “We nudge them in the right direction, but it’s really their plan with a little guidance.”
Both the challenge and the Veteran’s Day Ceremony were a great success, according to Mansi, who says both are hopeful to become an annual event.
“We wanted the Wounded Warrior Challenge to be as close to Veterans Day as possible, because we figured everyone’s awareness is heightened around Veterans Day, and it seemed like the right fit,” said Mansi. " I want to tell all readers, to start getting in shape and forming up a team for next year."
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