The Southington Board of Education hosted a luncheon that filled the Community Municipal Center Council Chamber on Friday, June 14th.
It was a first in Southington. Ten members of the SHS Class of 2013 going directly into the U.S. Military Service after graduation were recognized at a special luncheon in their honor at the Southington Municipal Center on Friday, June 14th. The Southington Schools had invited families of the graduates and a diverse guest list representing the community to join in a wonderful send off to those who will be soon serving our country.
In recognizing the ten, School Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr. acknowledged the genuine thanks to them for their commitment to America. The military-bound graduates and their chosen branches of service are Grant Ford, U.S. Navy; Elijah Grenier, U.S. Air Force; Grace Jiminez, U.S. Army National Guard; Austin King, U.S. Navy; Eddie Klein, U.S. Army National Guard; Shawn Laucks, U.S. Marines; Matthew Maranda, U.S Navy; Ryan Perez, ROTC Navy at University of Washington; Matthew Sirois, U.S. Army;and Heidi Woodbury, U.S. Army National Guard
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The emotionally charged occasion accented the growth in the past several years of a close partnership between veterans in our community, the American Legion Kiltonic Post 72, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Marine Corps League and our Southington schools. The presence and contributions of the veterans to the education of our children has surely provided a new spotlight in our educational system for our men and women in the armed forces and a closer view and tangible sense of history to our students.
Keynote speaker, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Garry Brumback, now Town Manager of Southington, served in the U.S. Army before his second professional career of 15 years in municipal management before arriving in Southington. Visibly moved by the moment, Brumback expressed his personal pride and respect for the graduates and his thanks to the people of Southington who have demonstrably brought the level of gratitude for military service to a new level in our town. Brumback noted that these brave young men and women have effectively signed a blank check, payable to the United States of America, up to and including the supreme sacrifice.
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Past Commander of American Legion Post 72,Steve Pintarich announced in his remarks that as each of these ten graduates will receive an overhauled lap top as a gift upon completion of their basic training.
Let us all salute these fine young woman and wish them Godspeed. In Town Manager Brumback's words, "Looking proudly at these fine young men and women who have made such a commitment to their country so early in their lives, there's no doubt about the future of the United States of America."
