LINSIDE, W.Va. — JROTC students at James Monroe High School in Monroe County plan to travel to Normandy, France this summer for ceremonies commemorating the 71st Anniversary of D-Day, but need to increase their fundraising efforts for the trip.
The 18 cadets will be the only group in West Virginia, by invitation, to represent the state in the D-Day Memorial Parade in June.
Currently, the group has raised $37,000 with an expected $8,000 to fall into their hands soon. In total, they need nearly $55,000 to make the trip possible.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Scott Womack, Senior Army Instructor at James Monroe and at Monroe County Technical Center Battalion, said every little bit helps.
“We’re very close. If we could just get those next set of checks coming in, I really think it’ll push us over the top,” said Womack, on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” “All 18 are stellar cadets and I would be proud to send them overseas.”
The cadets will plan to visit France for six days. Womack said they’ll see the battle fields, visit the U.S. cemetery and museums, and sight-see in Paris.
“Exposing young people from Monroe County who rarely get the opportunity to travel out-of-state, let alone overseas, I think is an incredible opportunity for them, but also to honor the sacrifices that our veterans made at Normandy,” he said.
Womack said they selected the 18 participants out of the 80 cadets they have at James Monroe.
He said they have a merit order list ranked from 1 to 18. The rubric includes class participation, marching ability, a written research assignment on the D-Day invasion, and overall school standing.
Womack said not every cadet enlists in the military, but typically seven or eight do.
Womack said the curriculum is very practical, so students can use what they learn later on in life. Every student has to complete a form of public speaking, job interview training, physical training and health, and even how to tie a tie.
“These are life skills, something that will make them competitive in the work force,” he said, “We don’t exist to recruit people in the military. We exist to motivate young people to be better citizens.”
Womack’s son, Josiah Womack, is a student and the JROTC cadet captain at James Monroe. He is looking to make the trip to France as well. Overall, he said the program has prepared him for the future.
“One of the missions of JROTC is not just to train us to become better citizens, it is to prepare us for the world,” said Womack.
To donate to the cause call (304)-753-6906, mail a check to JROTC Monroe County Technical Center, Route 1 P.O. Box 97-1-A, Linside, WV 24951, or email Lt. Col. (Ret.) Scott Womack at womackse@gmail.com.