The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Military-bound students recognized at commitment ceremonies
Mentor High School recognized 10 students who have enlisted in the Armed Forces with a ceremony held May 1.
During the Koman-SprengZonneville Military Commitment Ceremony, seniors: Pvt. Philip Aumann, Ohio National Guard; Kasandra Hiott and Marco Munaretto, United States Marines Corps; Keara McMinn, U.S. Army ROTC; and Kyrnan Jakupca, Marcus Kowalski, Michael Merriman, Dominic Nebe, Tristan Pastor and Jacob Schivitz, U.S. Navy active duty, were honored for their decisions to enter into the military.
The recognition began with a color guard presentation by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9295 and American Legion Post 352, both of Mentor, followed
immediately by the Mentor High School choir singing the national anthem; and the Pledge of Allegiance being recited.
Pastor Tim Potter of Grace Church of Mentor said a prayer for the new enlistees prior to interim Superintendent William Porter speaking.
“Your commitment today shows your courage and dedication, both honorable traits that will carry you far from the Board of Education, myself and all of us here at Mentor Schools. We are proud of you,” Porter told the students.
“We cannot thank you enough ... and wish you great success in the future.”
Additional speakers included World War II veteran Bob Zonneville; American Legion Past Commander Doug Koman and Commander Matt McBride, a 2001 Mentor High School graduate and Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan.
McBride spoke to the students about integrity and encouraged them to know and understand the meaning of the word so they could apply it to their lives. Aumann, who said he enlisted because of the benefits and a longtime desire to serve, decided on the National Guard because of the unlimited opportunities it offers him. He sees it as a start to a military career.
He completed his basic combat training last year after finishing his junior year.
“I like it a lot,” Aumann said of the ceremony. “I went to the one last year to watch some of my friends.
“It’s a heartfelt moment when the cities and the schools recognize the young men and women for also joining into the military. It means a lot to me and also means a lot to everyone here.”
It’s good, It’s actually appreciated here. Sometimes when someone is in the military, people can look at it and brush it off, but, this shows that the school actually cares and people coming to watch shows us that they care, too.”
McMinn, who will be a cadet in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, starting in August, said she enlisted because she wants to serve her country and get an education while serving.
She said she thought applying for ROTC was her best option for both, because she becomes a soldier while earning a degree at the same time. McMinn will be majoring in health and biological sciences, hoping to become a combat medic and emergency room doctor.
“I think (the ceremony) is fantastic,” she said. “I think our military men and women are underappreciated during this time. It’s kind of hard to see that nobody is really appreciating the sacrifices they make. I have friends stationed all over the world who don’t get to come home and see their families like civilians do.
“It’s a heartfelt moment when the cities and the schools recognize the young men and women for also joining into the military. It means a lot to me and also means a lot to everyone here.”
This is the sixth year Mentor Public Schools has honored its enlisted students with a ceremony named after the three men who came up with the idea and created the program: Korean War veteran Bud Spreng; Zonneville; and Koman.
Military commitment ceremonies are somewhat new to many schools who decided their enlisting students deserved recognition just the same as their college-bound athletes.
North and South High Schools also have ceremonies recognizing their enlisted students.
Students from Eastlake North who will be recognized during a military commitment ceremony and on Senior Awards Night are: Emma Fussner, United States Marine Corps; Ryan McCarthy, U.S. Navy; Garrett Tryon, U.S. Coast Guard; and Mason Gardner, U.S. Air Force. Gardner is currently going through the enlistment process.
Enlisted students from Willoughby South who will be recognized are: Ian Morales and Jonathan Shrout, U.S. Army; Ariyana Parker, U.S. Air Force; and Gage Miller, United States Marine Corps.