NJROTC Students Show Uncommon Poise at Annual Military Ball (VIDEO)

OOoorah!!! The traditional military call echoed throughout the ballroom during the toast to all of the military services, veterans, and more than 600 guests of The Bethel High School's Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Ninth Annual Military Ball.

The event was held at the Aqua Turf Country Club in Plantsville on Sunday night with 200 NJROTC cadets, 145 BHS Students, and 275 adult guests in attendance.  The elegant Ball celebrated Uncommon Valor, in honor of the 67th anniversary of the Navy and Marine Corps assault on Iwo Jima on 19 February, 1945, after which Fleet Admiral Nimitz said “Uncommon Valor was a common virtue. The ball was a testament to the hard work and efforts of many.

Tech Sergeant Roxanne Milositz, USAF, (Ret), head of the Booster Club which raised funds for the event and mother of one of the cadets, said, “We start planning in September, the food, the flowers, and where it will be held. I was in this kind of military training when I was in college, so this has a lot of meaning to me.”

 Besides the beautiful surroundings of the Aqua Turf, the highlight of the evening was the dignity with which the young people carried out their military duties.  The poise and elegance of the cadets was a reflection of the classes they had taken at BHS, with their Senior Naval Science Instructor, teacher Lt. Commander Mark Dwinells, USN (Ret)

 State Rep. Dan Carter, (R), a veteran of the Air Force, attended the event in military dress. He said, “If you think of the skills and respect the kids are getting from a program like this, it's truly unique.”

 Masters of Ceremonies Cadets Zane Knapp and Lucy Shea announced the cadet leadership and guests of honor as they proceeded through the sword arch honor guard and the events of the evening.  As the video shows, the receiving line with sword maneuvers set the tone for a joyous military celebration.

A moving reenactment of the famous Iwo Jima flag raising was created by six students, and the seventh, Andrew Smith who narrated the over 800 words of the “tale of six boys” from memory. Cadet Charles Bosworth built the platform. The presentation included the stories of each of the original Marines, and the Navy Corpsman who raised the flag atop Mt. Suribachi. The flag raisers were cadets Brian Bergen, Michael Crimi, Alex Corbo, Efren Anaya, Joshua Tamburino, and Benjamin Milositz.

 The Guest of Honor was actor John Ratzenberger, originally of Bridgeport, Ct, who is most well known for his role as Cliff in the television show, "Cheers", and to the younger attendees, as the voice from all of the Pixar movies, from Toy Story to Cars.

 Also celebrated was Battalion Commander Madison Denny, who will be attending Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island in the fall.

 Before dinner, ballroom dancers Cadet Romana Pilepich and her dance teacher, Elmar Schmidt awed the crowd as they danced lightly past the spectators, their feet barely touching the floor.

 Perhaps the first big break in the Formality of the evening came from the Expendable Cadet, Joseph Panozzo, who screamed his way across the ballroom when called upon to be the first to taste the beef, assuring the safety of his superiors. This ancient tradition brought laughter from the crowd.

 The senior cadets performed a romantic waltz to mark the end of the formalities, and then the music turned to a variety for all to enjoy. The adults got up to dance and even Bethel High School Principal Patricia Cosentino, who was hailed throughout the evening as the Captain of the Ship, was on the dance floor.

 First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said, “I am extremely proud of these kids. The program has had such a positive impact on them. It isn't about military recruitment, it is about learning discipline, respect, and contributing to your community. It's a core values program.”