Cub Scouts, Veterans Day and ROTC

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CDTs Patino, Dombeck, Klatt, Intress and myself demonstrating how to properly salute.

Hey Pointers!

Every now and then ROTC is presented with opportunities to go out into the community and either teach members of different organizations about different aspects of the Army or help them out with anything they may need. This past Monday, a group of cadets were invited to give a presentation to the Cub Scouts Troop 222. While we were there we talked about the importance of the American flag, how to fold the flag properly and the overall history of the flag.

All of the children were very interested in what we had to say. It was really cool to see a younger generation so enthusiastic about something that not a lot of people care about anymore these days. They all had a lot of questions and even more answers. My favorite conversation went a little something like this:

CDT Patino: “During sports events, like a baseball game, the national anthem plays, if we are in uniform, then we salute, otherwise you usually stand up and put your hand over your heart.”

(A child raises his hand)

Child: “Um … I’m on the baseball team and the football team.”

Kids say the darndest things.

Overall, it was a very rewarding and exciting experience. The children were all very happy to be involved; we had them fold and unfold the flag properly. It was a really cool experience to see children so excited about something so important.

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CDTs Patino, Dombeck and myself letting some of the scouts try their hand at folding the flag.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 was Veterans Day. On this day we take time to remember the past, present and future men and women who have served this great nation. ROTC is usually involved in a couple events around campus on Veterans Day. We usually do a couple color guards and go to some presentations that the school holds.

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CDTs Dombeck, Salm, Esser, Irish and myself presenting the colors at Commencement.

During the color guards we have a four-person team; two people with rifles and two people with flags (the American flag and either the state flag or the UW-Stevens Point school flag, or all three). We present and post the colors at the beginning of the event and then, depending on the event, we also retire the colors. We have color guards at a multitude of different events. Most often, we present the colors at home Pointers football games, other times we present the colors at certain organized talks that UWSP holds, ROTC events, commencement and graduation.

These opportunities are very special because we get to go out into the community and show everyone what UW-Stevens Point ROTC is all about. Being able to teach children and present the colors for the public to see is so rewarding; it really gives you something to be proud of.

Until next time! Pointers Lead the Way!
Cadet Newell

Rilee Newell is a cadet in the UW-Stevens Point ROTC program. She is majoring in sociology with an emphasis in deviance and social control with minors in military science and peace studies.