Patterson AFJROTC students in the Veterans Day Parade (Photo: AFJROTC)

By John Dingzon,

On Veterans Day, Lieutenant Colonel Jones and Technical Sergeant Smith took over 20 Air Force Junior ROTC students on a field trip to a parade honoring veterans. The students all marched downtown through the Baltimore City Council. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was there for the veterans and many retired military vets that fought and have survived. JROTC students from multiple schools marched in the parade alongside survivors of the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and World War 2. Some of the battles the World War 2 veterans fought in include the Soviet Union, the Pacific, the Battle of Manila, the Battle of Corregidor, and the Battle of Pearl Harbor. The first woman who joined the National Guard also attended and were on stage giving speeches.

“[The] Veterans Day Parade is a community service project we try and do every year. It is an opportunity [ . . . ] for the cadets to celebrate and to honor the veterans. And it is a chance for the public to see the Patterson Junior ROTC as the representatives of the military community. We are very proud of our students,” Colonel Jones said.

The Air Force Junior ROTC believe the Veterans Day Parade was a success, marching to honor the veterans that survived WW II. They are looking forward to performing again next year.