A salute for new soldiers
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
5/30/2009

The young men and women of Camden County who graduate high school and decide to join the Armed Forces will have a special night devoted to their service.

The first High School Enlistee Recognition Ceremony will take place Tuesday, June 2, at the Mansion in Voorhees Township. The event will honor high school graduates in Camden County who have chosen to serve in the Armed Forces.

Dr. Kenneth Hartman, a current Cherry Hill board of education member, said 48 of the 55 graduating high school seniors in Camden County who have dedicated themselves to the armed services will be attending the event.

Hartman, a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1980 to 1990 who reached the rank of first lieutenant, said the ceremony will give the new recruits a send off they truly deserve.

“Not only do I have a deep personal commitment and appreciation for these young people who will be going to serve their country, we’re doing this because these youngsters are willing to stand guard for their nation,” he said. “It’s because of them that their classmates will be able to go to schools this fall.”

Terry Ruggles, a news anchor for NBC 10, will emcee the event. Dom Giordano, a WPHT talk show host, will be the featured speaker during the night, Hartman said.

Eagles legend Vince Papale will be the night’s keynote speaker. He will address more than 200 visitors to the event, Hartman said, which will be attended by the 48 students, their families and a number of other special guests as well.

A two-star general will be present, Hartman said, as well as a Marine Corp band from the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va. Sitting at every table will be at least one Armed Forces veteran, Hartman said, as well as one high school counselor from a Camden County high school.

Jennifer Grimaldi, a school counselor at Haddonfield Memorial High School and past president of the Camden County School Counselors Association, secured one school counselor from every high school in Camden County to attend, Hartman said. There are three graduates of the Cherry Hill School District who will be attending the event, Hartman said. Ben Swander, 18, a soon to be graduate of Cherry Hill West, said a staff sergeant of the U.S. Marine Corps asked him to attend the event out of respect for him and for everyone in the Marines. Swander will begin basic training in October.

“I decided to join the Corps to serve my country, help out my family and for the financial help,” Swander said.

Steven Wister and Mark Baptiste from Cherry Hill East also will be attending.

All five branches of the Armed Forces will be represented at the event. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ronald Tuczak was one of the first recruiters Hartman said he went to when the idea for this night was in its infancy.

Honoring these young men and women, Tuczak said, is an important thing to do during this time. The event will showcase the students and their families and the important journey they’re about to embark upon.

“I envy their journey. I’m proud of their decision to serve. The opportunities are there and it’s up to them to seize the day and take full advantage of what the Armed Forces have to offer,” he said.

“Nothing worth earning comes easy. When they walk across the graduation field at basic training, tears will roll down their parents' eyes and they’ll be so proud of what their sons and daughters have accomplished. We help them find their inner strength.”

Retired Lt. Col. Colonel Al Bancroft – active duty in the Marine Corp for 33 years until 1991 – saluted Hartman for creating the celebration. Bancroft was instrumental in recruiting veterans to come to the celebration.

There are about 55 veterans organizations in Camden County, he said, and 40 will likely be represented during the night. Bancroft serves as the director of Military Affairs for the county’s Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I feel strongly about this because when you have these graduation ceremonies you celebrate the magna cum laude, the people that do well scholastically,” he said. “You don’t hear about those that obviously got good grades but also decided to serve their countries. At the age of 17 or 18, that’s a big obligation. It’s a great opportunity to thank them and their families. We didn’t have this years ago.”

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the night, Hartman said, is it's limited to only Camden County graduates. Funding was limited – with most of it being provided by Hartman himself – but several organizations stepped forward and asked if their graduates could also attend.

Hopefully next year other counties and school districts will follow suit and put on a similar event, Hartman said. However, any graduate attending a branch of the armed services is invited to attend the free college fair being held on the same day at The Mansion from 4-6 p.m.

About 12 colleges have signed on to speak with the future armed forces members, he said. Representatives will show the graduates how they can use funding available through the G.I. Bill.

If a business or private citizen would like to donate, please visits the event’s Web site at ourcommunitysalutes.com.