Pictured are the Dunkirk High School JROTC Unit and their instructors. Celebrating 23 years, the JROTC held its annual end-of-year banquet Tuesday at Dunkirk High School.

Tuesday marked a day of excellence for the Dunkirk JROTC Marauder Battalion as they celebrated their end of the year awards ceremony. The program, which is celebrating its 23rd year, has been a long-standing fixture at Dunkirk High School, growing to encompass the whole of the community and beyond.

These 63 cadets were joined by family and friends, as well as individuals from various groups, such as the Department of American Veterans, the American Legion, United States Recruiting Command, Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution.

The program opened with the JROTC Color Guard posting the colors, followed by the pledge, opening remarks and invocation with Lieutenant-Colonel Russel Clark and Sergeant First-Class Frank Torain presiding. Dinner was served by many parents of students and staff alike, which consisted of homemade dishes and desserts, so much so that there was enough for seconds all around.

Institutional (those by the program itself) and national awards were given out for an array of topics, ranging from leadership activities, academic excellence, athletic achievement and community service. The love and admiration in the room was palpable as people applauded and praised the recipients.

Though the event was a light-hearted affair, it was shrouded in concern over the recent talks of the high school possibly cutting a period off the 2018-2019 school year. Dunkirk School Superintendent Dr. James Tracy had a few words to put the parents’ minds at ease. He referred to the program as “a diamond, one of the key programs in the school.”