Post by admin on Nov 21, 2008 16:51:04 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1119/front_page/021.html
Ceremony on Intrepid inspires ROTC cadets
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer
To celebrate and honor all of the men and women who have served to protect the nation's freedom, New York City held its annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11. This year, members of the Freehold Regional High School District's Navy Junior ROTC program took part in the parade along Fifth Avenue.
The ROTC program is based at Colts Neck High School.
Major Greg Penczak, supervisor of the ROTC program, said that in addition to marching in the parade between 26th and 56th streets, the cadets also had the honor of taking part in the reopening ceremonies of the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
Present for the reopening ceremonies of the Intrepid was President George W. Bush, who was honored with the Freedom Award, according to the museum's Internet Web site. Penczak said the opportunity to stand on the deck of the Intrepid is quite an experience, as is seeing the reactions of the veterans who had served on the ship.
"The ship is like a living person to them," Penczak said.
Following the ceremony aboard the ship, the 70 ROTC cadets who made the trip to New York City marched from the Intrepid across 42nd street and joined the main parade that was already in progress along Fifth Avenue.
The ROTC program enrolls about 180 students.
Penczak said this marked the first time the ROTC unit participated in the Veterans Day parade. The event in New York City is the largest Veterans Day parade in the nation, he said, adding that the parade organizers try to accommodate as many units as possible to march along Manhattan's streets.
The Navy Junior ROTC Character and Leadership Development Academy is one of the Freehold Regional High School District's specialized learning academies.
The four-year program is designed for students who are interested in learning more about the military and in developing character and leadership skills. The cadet corps maintain an active presence during school and community volunteer service projects throughout the FRHSD community.
Ceremony on Intrepid inspires ROTC cadets
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer
To celebrate and honor all of the men and women who have served to protect the nation's freedom, New York City held its annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11. This year, members of the Freehold Regional High School District's Navy Junior ROTC program took part in the parade along Fifth Avenue.
The ROTC program is based at Colts Neck High School.
Major Greg Penczak, supervisor of the ROTC program, said that in addition to marching in the parade between 26th and 56th streets, the cadets also had the honor of taking part in the reopening ceremonies of the U.S.S. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
Present for the reopening ceremonies of the Intrepid was President George W. Bush, who was honored with the Freedom Award, according to the museum's Internet Web site. Penczak said the opportunity to stand on the deck of the Intrepid is quite an experience, as is seeing the reactions of the veterans who had served on the ship.
"The ship is like a living person to them," Penczak said.
Following the ceremony aboard the ship, the 70 ROTC cadets who made the trip to New York City marched from the Intrepid across 42nd street and joined the main parade that was already in progress along Fifth Avenue.
The ROTC program enrolls about 180 students.
Penczak said this marked the first time the ROTC unit participated in the Veterans Day parade. The event in New York City is the largest Veterans Day parade in the nation, he said, adding that the parade organizers try to accommodate as many units as possible to march along Manhattan's streets.
The Navy Junior ROTC Character and Leadership Development Academy is one of the Freehold Regional High School District's specialized learning academies.
The four-year program is designed for students who are interested in learning more about the military and in developing character and leadership skills. The cadet corps maintain an active presence during school and community volunteer service projects throughout the FRHSD community.