What Did You Do on Veteran’s Day?
Original Posting Date: November 15, 2023
What did you do on Veteran’s Day? On Saturday November 11 th , 2023 the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets from Borah High School, led by Senior Army Instructor Major (Retired) Hugo Manzo and First Sergeant (Retired) Bobby Caron, were at the Boise Christian Retirement Center honoring their veteran citizens.
The morning started off with a small ceremony recognizing five of the resident veterans; then this rowdy group of 74 go-getters began raking leaves – 6 acres of leaves, to be exact. For over 20 years Borah High School’s JROTC has been raking leaves for this Boise community; suffice it to say, it is now a long-standing tradition that makes everyone involved supremely happy.
Why does a high school JROTC rake leaves for veterans? It comes down to leadership and selfless service. JROTC programs across the country aim to instill Army values into the young men and women enrolled in the program. Raking leaves for those who’ve served our country is a natural fit that encourages a valuable ethic of service in these cadets.
Junior ROTC programs fill a unique role in schools across the nation. Not every JROTC cadet will matriculate out of high school and into uniform; however, the JROTC program seeks to transform young students into civically engaged citizens able to positively contribute to society.
Programs are typically comprised of students from all walks of life with varying backgrounds and family situations. The JROTC program often succeeds in providing purpose, direction, values, and support that many students crave. It is a worthy cause and an outstanding investment in people and their communities. Many of the cadets emerge from the program strengthened with renewed confidence to serve elsewhere, some even become leaders in the
US military.
When asked, “Why did you join the JROTC program?” a few responses were unexpected including, “I feel a sense of belonging to the JROTC program. I can be me.” “I have a sense of brotherhood with practically every single cadet in the program. It’s the family I wish I had at home.” “I know this program is making a difference in my life choices and my future decisions.”
“I love that the cadre really care about us and teaches us what nobody else will.” Astounded at such mature and thoughtful answers, I pondered the merits of the JROTC program.
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage – these are the values of the United States
Army and the ones that many of the cadets leaned into with their responses. These are also the same values timelessly defended by
our veterans.
Young cadets, eager to make a change in their current lives and learn the ways of the military brotherhood, really did make a
difference on this special day. Each cadet is learning many of the Army Values through the JROTC program and welcome the positive changes that they feel are needed to become a great citizen.
Many cadets may eventually go on to earn the “Veteran” title in service to the Nation. And, because of the Borah High School JROTC program, these high school students may just have a clearer goal and purpose for their lives.
Thank you, Veterans, for what you have done for your country; and thank you Borah High School JROTC Cadre for making difference in the lives of these young men and women, showing them the value of selfless service and the necessity of honoring our veterans.