Minisink JROTC Color Guard visits St. Joseph’s Place

PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — In honor of Veterans Day, the Minisink High School Army JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) Color Guard visited the residents of St. Joseph’s Place, a long-term care facility at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, N.Y.
The Minisink High School cadets, accompanied by teacher Brian VanWagner, CSM, presented the colors and then led their audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem. Following a series of drill demonstrations, the cadets greeted all the residents including military veterans living at St. Joseph’s Place, who were also presented with awards honoring their service.
One of those residents, Charles Strom, 92, had served in the Navy as a gunner on the battleship USS Arkansas during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II.
Although he recently injured his arm, Strom managed to attend the ceremony with his wife, Svyatoslava, wearing a coat displaying his numerous service ribbons and medals.
Recreation Director Kelly Fedrizzi, whose son is currently serving in the Air Force, presented the awards and thanked the cadets for visiting St. Joseph’s Place.
She said it demonstrated the excellent community relations with the skilled nursing facility and its intergenerational programming.
The cadets were also invited to a luncheon prepared by the Food and Nutrition Department at Bon Secours Community Hospital.