Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Sun Valley ROTC cadets earn awards
Each year the Marine Corps League presents two outstanding JROTC Cadets with the Distinguished Citizen Medal-Bronze for their contribution to the JROTC and the community. On June 2, Earle Drake and Bob Spano of the General Smedley D. Butler Detachment of the Marine Corps League of Newtown Square, visited the Sun Valley High School in Aston and made this year’s award presentation to Cadets Hunter Ford and Luke Glatts.
Sun Valley High School offers a United States Marine Corps Junior ROTC course. JROTC is an elective course that may be taken during any year of a student’s high school education. It is a fully accredited course, and for one year completed the students receive an academic credit. The mission of the Marine Corps JROTC is to develop character and citizenship in the youth of America. The program is a “Cadet Run Program” where the Cadets take an active role in all aspects of the program.
The Marine Corps League has been recognizing outstanding Cadets and Mid-Shipmen enrolled in local high schools and colleges for many years. Retired Colonel Tom Reimann is the Senior Marine instructor. He is assisted by retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Pearn. Col. Reimann is retiring this year. His position will be filled by Pearn.
The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by WWI Marine hero and then Maj. Gen. and Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, John A. Lejeune. Today the League boasts of a membership in excess of 76,000. Its sponsored programs include Marines Helping Marines, the Youth Physical Fitness Program, the Young Marines of the Marine Corps League, the Veterans Service Officer Program, the Marine Corps League Auxiliary, the Toys for Tots program, the Adopt-a-Highway program, and several scholarships.
U.S. Marine Corps General Smedley D. Butler was born in West Chester and lived much of his adult life in Newtown Square. He spent many of his final years lecturing throughout the country on behalf of veterans’ causes and good government. The general was one of only two U.S. Marines awarded two Medals of Honor for heroism in two distinct military actions.