Air Force Jr. ROTC Cadets Donate $1,300 to Local Charities

On Feb. 6, the Woonsocket High School AFJROTC hosted a function to recognize a national charity, the Snowball Express. 

This organization offers the surviving family members of troops killed overseas a chance to connect with others who have suffered the same loss and also allows these children and spouses the opportunity to be honored as the families of our nation’s fallen heroes. Last year, more than 1,700 family members participated in the events sponsored by the Snowball Express.  

The money donated to this charity and another, Adopt A Family, was collected by the JROTC cadets over a ten day period following the Thanksgiving holiday.  Working in teams, they spent their lunch periods collecting the money from other students and faculty members.  This money, along with personal donations from the cadet’s families, amounted to over $1,300 collected.  

Following tradition, the cadets took half the money and purchased gifts for four children in the Adopt A Family charity.  They ensured that those children had presents under their trees for Christmas morning.  The other half was presented to Faith Harrington and her children, Josh and Kaylee, the spouse and children of local soldier Kyle Harrington who was killed in Iraq in 2009.  Faith and her children accepted the donation on behalf of the Snowball Express charity.  

Also in attendance at the function were:  Mayor Fontaine; Superintendent of the Woonsocket Schools, Dr. Donoyan; the Principal of Woonsocket High, Dr. Bedard; WHS AFJROTC Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, Major Dan Richards; the Aerospace Science Instructor, SSgt Dan Pinckney; as well as other faculty members. 

In addition to this tribute, a change of command and promotion ceremony was held.  Cadet Commander Ben Auclair turned over command of the unit to Cadet Captain Ryan Lagasse and Mayor Fontaine along with Dr. Donoyan presented new ranks to the seniors who were promoted during the term.