WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — Parents, teachers, school staff, Fort Leonard Wood leaders and community members gathered April 30 in Waynesville High School’s gymnasium to congratulate and honor 36 students from across South-Central Missouri who have chosen to become warriors for freedom and the American way of life.
The event recognized high school seniors, who are joining a branch of the military, who are attending a college Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, or who have received an appointment to a military academy.
Speaking at the event, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, thanked the teens’ parents for raising warfighters.
“To the parents, you should be filled with pride. This is an incredible achievement. You have guided your son or daughter to a great place,” Beck said.
Turning his attention to the future military members, he said he owed them a “debt of gratitude” and was excited for the transformation they had ahead of them.
“You are volunteering to serve in something greater than yourself. You are going to be pushed beyond your limits, but the reality is you are going to find a strength in yourself that you didn’t know you had,” he said.
Waynesville High School senior, Tristan Boerner, said he chose to attend the Army ROTC program at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas after graduation because he wants to be all he can be.
“I am looking forward to the opportunities the Army ROTC program will open for me. It is going to pay for my college, and I am excited to learn about leadership while exploring the career I am going into,” Boerner said. “I want to be a nurse, and I’m excited to see where the Army guides me on this journey.”
He said making a career decision after high school is tough and it makes him feel good to know the community supports him.
“It really shows us they have our backs,” Boerner said.
Chrissi Palotay, Army wife and mother of a future Airman, said she is proud of her son, 18-year-old, Garrison Olson, for choosing to dedicate his life to the U.S. Armed Forces.
She said there is a lot of pressure put on high school seniors to choose a career path, and she thinks the military is an excellent choice.
“Everything he has ahead of him in life is going to be exciting. He has so many options with everything the military has to offer,” Palotay said.
During the ceremony, students were individually recognized by the branch of the military they are joining:
Beck congratulated students joining the U.S. Army (including the Army Reserve), Army ROTC, those with appointments to the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as they crossed the stage; Col. Mike Seek, Missouri National Guard chief of joint staff, congratulated students joining the National Guard; Marine Col. Robyn Mestemacher, Fort Leonard Wood Marine Corps Detachment commander, congratulated students joining the Marine Corps; Navy Lt. Jasen Nickman, Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering Fort Leonard Wood officer in charge, congratulated students joining the Navy, Coast Guard and appointments to the Naval Academy; and Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin McKinley, 368th Training Squadron commander, congratulated students joining the Air Force, Space Force and Air Force Academy.
Beck closed his remarks by making sure the future service members felt appreciated.
“I can speak honestly for every person in this room wearing a uniform, we are proud of you,” Beck said. “Thank you for what you are about to do.”
To view more photos of the event, visit Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page.
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