The Michigan City High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) recently demonstrated how it supports Michigan City Area Schools and our surrounding community. The cadets provided traffic control for the Michigan City High School prom, helped beautify a local road as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program, assisted VFW Post 2536 with their annual Poppy Day sale fundraiser, and packaged food for the local Salvation Army for distribution to needy Michigan City area families.
Since the prom is the biggest social event of the year for juniors and seniors, the cadets wanted to do their part to ensure the evening went smoothly for their fellow students. School sponsor Mrs. Sue Cleveland stated that “the parking and traffic flow went so much better than last year with the cadets here. They were a tremendous help.”
The Michiana Marines Chapter of the Marine Corps League has adopted Route 421 and part of Route 6 as part of the Department of Transportation road beautification program. Cadets helped pick up trash to provide a cleaner image of Michigan City. Mike Sandy, the commander of the Michiana Marines, complimented the cadets on their willingness to give of themselves for the betterment of the community. “They are a fine group of young men and women who are always willing to serve our community,” he said.
With the aging of many of the member of VFW Post 2536, the help that the cadets provided was important for the post to continue its’ mission of helping veterans. Ms. Lanette Kelso, one of the organizers of the Poppy Sale, commented on the importance of the cadets helping the VFW. “We couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
The cadets were also a big help to the local Salvation Army. Ms. Denita Ton, the Community Service Director at the chapter on Franklin Street, said of the cadets, “They are wonderful! We love them!”
The cadets will continue to be busy through the end of the school year and into the summer. They will be honoring deceased veterans and their families by placing flags on veterans’ graves at local cemeteries and marching in the Michigan City Memorial Day Parade. They will be providing assistance to most of the Michigan City Area Schools as the different schools provide end-of- the-year presentations by the students. Assistance will also be provided to the Queen of All Saints Festival, the St. Stan’s Road Race, and the high school graduation. On a training level, the cadets will be attending a Leadership Camp at the Boy Scout Reservation at Yellow Springs, Ohio from June 10-15th.