Lincoln-Way AFJROTC Volunteers Participate in Wreaths Across America

From Lincoln-Way High School District:

The Lincoln-Way Central, East, North and West AFJROTC Cadets volunteered their time this holiday season to help with the national program Wreaths Across America held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Dec. 14.

“Lincoln-Way Air Force Junior ROTC Cadets assisted with the annual Wreaths Across America at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery," said Master Sergeant Daniel Schliffka, the Lincoln-Way Central AFJROTC instructor.

"Over 40 students began the day at 8:30 a.m. in near blizzard conditions and worked tirelessly throughout the ceremony helping with equipment, guests, staging, and the unpacking of nearly 6,100 wreaths," Schliffka said. "I am so proud of the tremendous attitude and effort our cadets displayed. We continuously teach ‘service-before–self’ and it is especially encouraging to see the Lincoln-Way AFJROTC cadets show it in their work ethics outside the classroom.”

Lincoln-Way West Cadet Danny Puig sang the National Anthem to begin the ceremony.

For the opening ceremony the Lincoln-Way AFJROTC cadets presented wreaths to each of the six representatives of the United States Military and escorted the representatives to their flags to symbolically place their wreaths before their armed service flags. Military representatives in the ceremony included the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the POW/MIA.

Lt. Col. John O’Connor, Lincoln-Way Central AFJROTC, was the master of ceremonies for the event.

The opening ceremony was approximately a half hour in length. The hundreds of volunteers, including the Lincoln-Way AFJROTC Cadets and the Lincoln-Way West Rotary Interact Club, then helped place wreaths on 6,100 military graves scattered throughout the over 40,000 graves now at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

This is the fifth year that the Lincoln-Way Central AFJROTC cadets participated in the event. The event coincided with similar events held at Arlington National Cemetery and across all 50 states. Wreaths Across America is an annually sponsored event held on a designated Saturday in December.

“The event serves as a means to remember and honor our veterans and to teach about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedom,” said Lt. Col. Michael Wingfield, AFJROTC instructor at Lincoln-Way North.

Lincoln-Way Central ROTC cadets participating in Wreaths Across America were: Nick Koerner, Eddy Hess, Steve Sawallisch, Tyler Vavouleas, Kyra Baltas, Tyler Roiland, Michael Kusiolek, Matt Rosendale, Steve Miller, Joe Jaskula, Emily Jones, Ann Marie Day, George Gustafson, Vincent Senese, Christian May, Austin Lahman, Remington Davis, Abrielle Bortkewicz, Gavin Didion-Jones, Kristan Lazarski, Gage Biel, Anna Horn, Maddy Willson, Steph Jones, Michael O’Lear, Robert Wellen, Ace Baltas, Aidan Piwnicki, and Sam Williams.

Lincoln-Way East ROTC Cadets participating in Wreaths Across America were: Kyle Carrara, Josh Guttman, James Ingram, Bryan Jack, Tim Lutz, Megan Pfersdorf, Joe Rios, Edgar Vea, Tom Weber, Dean Welby, and James Casteel.

Lincoln-Way West ROTC were: Tom Kowalkowski, James Moy, Paige Bridges, Sara O’Hare, Brayan Angulo, Zue Balquin, John Tamburo, Matt Smith, Greg Milligan, Danny Puig, Ben Kloep, Brooke Thompson, and Hanna Slater.

Geaninne Luciano represented the Lincoln-Way North ROTC cadets.

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