Summer is a time for relaxing, forgetting about school and doing things you want to do. But for 27 Brother Martin NJROTC Cadets, summer also was a time for serving others.
Whether it was handing out water at a race, working in a community kitchen or presenting the colors in the community, Brother Martin students proved that we are not just a school where you learn to make a living, but to make a life.
NJROTC summer community service started by taking care of a water station at the semi-annual Girls on the Run 5k event in City Park. Cadets arrived early to set up tables, prepare cups and clean the area to prepare for the race. They kept the competitors hydrated and cheered on participants.
After the race, they showed initiative and a service spirit by assisting with a complete breakdown of the entire event which serves more than 1,000 members plus coaches, mentors and community competitors.
The Color Guard performed at the Miracle Day League, the Floral Trail through Jackson Square, a Navy Retirement Ceremony at the World War II museum and a U.S. Flag retirement ceremony with the Boy Scouts and the Knights of Columbus. Cadets gave up their time to represent Brother Martin, the NJROTC program and pay respect to community and veterans organizations through impeccable military precision and skill.
The Color Guard normally consists of the U.S Flag bearer, the State Flag bearer and two rifle guards. The traditions go back generations to the protection of battle standards so that troops on the field could always find their unit in the midst of the chaos of warfare. Our Color Guard committed their time on average more than twice per month throughout the school year to community service events in addition to competitions, parades and Brother Martin sporting events.
The big service project was an event coordinated by the cadets to support Second Harvest Food Bank. Cadets worked a shift per day for two weeks packaging meals, moving and stocking warehouse items, cleaning and providing support for meal distribution to community food programs in the New Orleans area. Some Cadets worked two shifts a day to complete service hours.
“Working here brought me a new awareness of the needs of the community,” said Cadet Brendan Brouillette ‘19. “It really gives you an appreciation of the things we take for granted.”
All of the cadets learned the value of teamwork in a fun and challenging environment. They met full-time workers who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Cadet Vidal Amador ‘19 summed up the experience with his personal motto, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Combined, the cadets earned 417 hours on all of the projects from May through August. Many Cadets earned all of their required service hours through the summer program, including three Juniors that completed all 60 required hours. The NJROTC Crusader Company lives the example of citizens and leaders.
The NJROTC program performs community service as well as field trips and competitions throughout the year.
Interested students should see their guidance counselor or the NJROTC instructors in the next two weeks if they are interested in joining the program and participating the overnight field trip to the USS Alabama and Naval Aviation museum. For more information on how to become a member of Crusader Company, click here.
