From staff reports
Local high school students who plan to enter the U.S. military after graduation will be honored at a dinner Friday, May 26, at Atlantic Avenue United Brethren Church in Franklin.
The free dinner is sponsored by Our Community Salutes, a nationwide organization that recognizes teens who are headed to the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Marine Corps.
The local chapter of Our Community Salutes has reached out to 18 local schools and to local military recruiters to find out which students should be honored at the dinner.
“We have 66 kids so far,” said Sherman “Tank” Morrison of Franklin, a U.S. Navy veteran and chairman of the local chapter.
He said the local effort, now in its fifth year, continues to grow.
“We’ve increased it by going out to individual schools,” he said. “We started with five Venango County schools, but we now have reached out to Titusville, Lakeview, Forest and others, and this year we added Tidioute Charter School and Moniteau,” he said.
Morrison said the support of the community has made the difference in being able to honor so many young military prospects.
“This thing has really picked up and taken hold in our community,” Morrison said.
“Veterans, families, schools and recruiters – they all support it,” he said.
The dinner will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m.
Speakers will include retired Lt. Commander Gary Atkinson of Franklin and retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Charles Moss of Sharon.
Dr. Ken Hartman, founder of the national movement, is also expected to attend.
Along with the free meal, each graduate who attends the event will receive a commemorative coin; a red, white and blue honor cord; a certificate signed by local elected officials; and a T-shirt, candle, key tag and other memorabilia from local supporters.
Recruits who plan to attend should call Morrison at (814) 437-6977 or (814) 428-9102 to make reservations by Friday.
