County honors JROTC cadets
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Clinton High School Air Force JROTC Color Guard members (from left) Izzy Riley, Tyler Gomez, Abby Tindle and Ashley Gaetz carry the flags during Monday morning’s JROTC Appreciation Day event in front of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. - G Chambers Williams III
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Members of the Anderson County High School Navy JROTC march into downtown Clinton on Monday morning, followed by members of the Clinton High School Air Force JROTC. - G Chambers Williams III
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets from Anderson County, Clinton and Oak Ridge high schools were honored Monday in a ceremony in front of the county courthouse led by county Mayor Terry Frank.
Members from all three schools marched around the courthouse and stopped in front of the building on North Main Street in Clinton for recognition during the second-annual JROTC Appreciation Day program.
Participating were the Navy JROTC programs of Anderson County and Oak Ridge high schools, and the Air Force JROTC program of Clinton High School.
Clinton’s JROTC color guard presented the colors to start the program after the three groups had lined up in front of the courthouse.
Officials on hand for the program, besides Frank, included Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, state Rep. John Ragan, and Leon Jaquet, Anderson County director of veterans services.
Clinton real estate broker Jason Deel, a U.S. Army veteran, gave the keynote address.
Frank presented a proclamation of thanks to the three units.
In announcing the event, Frank said, “Units from Anderson County High School Navy JROTC, Clinton High School Air Force JROTC, and Oak Ridge Navy JROTC will be recognized for their dedication and outstanding support of the numerous community events where they assist and participate, such as Veterans Day parades, Christmas parades, Veterans Appreciation Breakfasts, community service, and numerous appearances for presentation of colors during community events throughout the year.”
Her announcement also noted:
“The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is a voluntary high school program of instruction, administered by the United States Department of Defense through the military departments.
“The program is meant to instill students with the values of citizenship, service to country, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.”
Anderson County High School’s Navy JROTC program was established in 2001 as the first program in Anderson County.
The Clinton High School Air Force JROTC was established in 2011.
The Oak Ridge High School Navy JROTC followed in 2017.