The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
North High honors military-bound students
North High honored its seniors who have enlisted in the military with its 1st Military Commitment Ceremony.
Eastlake North High School honored its seniors who have enlisted in the military with its inaugural Military Commitment Ceremony April 26.
The ceremony held in the school’s speech room, recognized 11 students members from the Class of 2017 in front of an audience of their family, student peers, teachers and school administration officials.
Northern Lights, the school’s vocal ensemble, performed “The Star Spangled Banner” at the beginning of the ceremony and closed it with “God Bless America.”
The 11 new recruits were introduced by Principal Eric Frei prior to all the recruits being recognized by a representative from their respective branches.
Guest speakers at the ceremony included Joseph Fischlin, past commander of the American Legion Post 678 in Willowick/ Eastlake; Tony Abate, past commander of VFW Post 3863 in Eastlake; Bob Weber, current commander of VFW Post 3863; and keynote speaker Stephen Thompson, superintendent of Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools.
“These young woman and men that are here today are going to ensure that we maintain our freedoms,” Frei said of the new recruits. ”They are going to be the ones that are going to be our representatives in a foreign country. They are doing that because they love our country and we all we have to do is honor them, respect them and love them back.”
Abate told the students that the miliary, particularly basic training/boot camp, would be tough at first.
“What I learned and what you will learn in the military is respect, self discipline and how to work together as a team,” Abate
“These young woman and men that are here today are going to ensure that we maintain our freedoms. They are going to be the ones that are going to be our representatives in a foreign country. They are doing that because they love our country and we all we have to do is honor them, respect them and love them back.” — North High School Principal Eric Frei
said. “The motto in the Army is be all that you can be and this certainly applies to no matter what job you learn. You learn it well (and) it will definitely help you later on in the work force.”
Thompson, who served six years in the Marines during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, congratulated the new recruits and told them they would challenge themselves in ways they wouldn’t even know possible and promised them they would have more memories than they could ever expect.
“It will be an absolutely incredible experience, you will be in great shape,” Thompson said.” “I can tell you through all my own trials and tribulations in my life I draw upon my experience in the Marine Corps time and time again.”
Students had a variety of reasons for enlisting.
Jordyn Sellers, enlisted in the Army National Guard because she believes she has something to offer the country.
“I thought I had more to contribute to the United States and I want to help people in a bigger way,” Jordyn said.
Jordyn’s mom Lisa Sellers said she was not a fan as first.
“As a mother you want to keep your child close,” Sellers said.
She said she asked Jordyn why she was enlisting and if she was afraid of dying. Her daughter responded she was OK with that as long as it was while was she was fighting for her country and protecting her family.
“I couldn’t say anything to that, all I could do was be proud,” Sellers said.
Many parents expressed the pride they felt with their children during the ceremony and of their decisions to enlist.
According to North High School Assistant Principal Jeff Lyons, the idea for the ceremony came from discussions on the proper thing to do for the young men and woman who have decided to serve.
“We thought we do a wonderful job for kids who are going off to college that play sports and they have signings,” he said. “Why shouldn’t we have signings for our kids who are really putting it out there and just doing so much to prove that love of country?”
Lyons indicated that the Military Commitment Ceremony will be an annual event.
The new recruits that were honored were:
• Air National Guard: Carmen DelZoppo, Alyssa Reik
• Air Force: Bryan Eggers
• Air Force Reserves: Sydnie Schwenk
• Army: Aaron Brown, Tucker Larsen, Brandon Mooney
• Army National Guard: Jordyn Sellers
• Navy: Ashleigh Crawford, Kelsey Wilk
• Marines: Jesse Purtell.