Ironwood JROTC honors veterans

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood - A Nov. 10 Veterans Day program at Luther L. Wright K-12 School in Ironwood was anchored in large part by members of the school's JROTC program.

Emcee Cadet/Col. Abigail Lauzon of the JROTC led the program, for which U.S. Air Force Sgt. Colin Clausen - an LLW graduate - was the guest speaker.

"Service is not just a word," said Clausen, explaining that it is a way of life.

"Service doesn't end when we take off our uniforms," he said. "For many of us, we're just beginning."

He added that service members enter a variety of fields such as nursing and teaching, and thereby continue to have an effect on their communities.

Moreover, said Clausen, service also is not limited to persons wearing a uniform. Instead, he said, "It's the duty of everyone."

School band members played "The Armed Services Medley" under the direction of Kirk McBrayer, and Darin Schmidt directed members of Accent! in the singing of the national anthem.

The program, which was held in the school gym, also included a presentation of colors by the JROTC Color Guard and a presentation of other flags by select cadets. Eight JROTC members also performed a flag-folding presentation, during which Cadet Pfc. Kodie Nowicki explained the meaning of each fold.

JROTC students playing key roles in flag-folding, the Color Guard and/or the flag presentation included: Cadet Capt. Nathan Jaunzems, Cadet Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. John Balchik, Cadet Staff Sgt. Joseph Lauzon, Cadet Pvt. Grace Lundquist, Cadet Staff Sgt. Mark Jaunzems, Cadet Pvt. Skyleigh Pulkas, Cadet Staff Sgt. Skyla Ballew, Cadet Sgt. 1st Class Alexandreya Schiller, Cadet Sgt. Logan Holm, and Cadet Maj. Eden Brady.

Additional JROTC members presenting flags were Cadet Sgt. Austin Sterbenz; Cadet Pfcs. Alexis Carland, Morgan Nowicki, John Moos, Moriah Shinaway and Hailey Johnson; Cadet Pvts. Adrianne Balchik and McKayla Jackson; and Cadet Lt. Col. Emily Kane.