State officials recognize Old Town Junior ROTC

OLD TOWN – Several cadets from the Old Town High School Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program traveled to Augusta on March 22 to receive honors from the 122nd Maine Legislature. The cadets were recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives for achieving Honor Unit with Distinction during their first annual formal inspection.

The Honor Unit with Distinction designation is not often achieved the first time by newly formed units and is the result of almost four years of hard work by the cadets and cadre of the Coyote Battalion. The visit was sponsored by state Rep. Scott Lansley of Sabattus and Greene, co-sponsored by state Rep. Richard Blanchard of Old Town and state Sen. Elizabeth Schneider of Penobscot County. The cadets were presented with a Sentiment from the Maine Legislature for their accomplishment.

After the ceremony, the cadets met with Gov. John E. Baldacci. The governor told the cadets how proud he was of their accomplishment, quizzed them on the State Seal of Maine and presented Cadet Capt. Seth Tillotson with a keepsake for giving the correct answer to a question. The governor also reminisced about his time at Bangor High School and mentioned his time in the Corps of Cadets at that school.

Cadets representing the Old Town High School Junior ROTC Program were Jeffrey Dow, Eric Roy, Dustin Alley, T.J. Bouchard, Katie Bartlett, Trampes Chambers, Rodney Mitchell, James Cyr, Seth Tillotson, Ryann Grant, Jordanne Cyr, Joshua Miller, Moriah Willard, Matthew Young, Brendan Paradis, Jessy Armstrong, Terran Stone and Bobby Thibeault. Lt. Col. Amadeo Lauria, senior Army instructor; Karen Larson, Old Town High School dean of students; and Terri Dow, parent, also attended.