West Orange Air Force JROTC Participates in Memorial Day Ceremony

The West Orange High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps participated in the township’s Memorial Day ceremony for the second time this past weekend.

In addition to participating in the ceremony, the JROTC cadets were a part of the planning process for the ceremony and even produced a middle school competition on “What Memorial Day Means to Me,” according to officials from West Orange Public Schools.

During the ceremony, West Orange Township Mayor Robert Parisi presented Cadet Corps Commander Ginamarie Arrabito with a certificate of recognition for her appointment to the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to West Orange Public Schools.

Parisi also recognized cadets Christopher Morgan and Jasmyn Lettman. Morgan will attend West Point Preparatory School for one year, after which he will receive his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Lettman will attend the University of Virginia and remain in the ROTC program, school district officials said.

Graduating senior and cadet Prince Drake was also recognized and was read the Oath of Enlistment as he plans on entering the military.

The JROTC program has taken part in the Memorial Day Ceremony twice since it was established. The program’s participation was recommended by Gary R. Englert, who died in January 2015. Englert organized the Memorial Day ceremony for years prior to his death, school district officials said.

“Gary’s passion and sense of honor helped to make West Orange ‘America’s Most Decorated Community,” Parisi said. “I would like to say thank you to the AFJROTC for being such a big part of this ceremony, and for becoming such an important part of our community.”

Since its inception in 2013, the West Orange Junior ROTC program has more than doubled in size. Approximately 120 students are expected to participate in the program at West Orange High School come the beginning of the school year in September.

(Photos courtesy of West Orange Public Schools)