Last Friday marked the AFJROTC’s seventh annual North Penn Military Ball where nearly 150 cadets, students, parents, and friends all dressed for the occasion and celebrated in our own Senior Café.
“It’s a great way to get everyone together,” exclaimed Mrs. Sullivan, “because JROTC is just like regular classes – every class is divided up and we have over 120 students in those classes so this gets them all together, and they then get to know each other a little better,” she explained.
A majority of the big event was organized by vice commander, Cadet Captain Patel, who according to Mrs. Sullivan is “quite the leader.” He, in coordination with his cadets, parents, and outside agencies, took charge in taking care of all the big and meticulous details from the food to the DJ. Hard work and gracious donations transformed the cafeteria into an elegant and memorable night. And since the seniors are the ones who coordinate the evening, each year has its own definitive spin on it, this year, simple and chic: the tables were covered in linen cloth and everything and everyone dressed to the nines.
“It’s nice because all the students wear either their class-A uniform collet with their jacket and everything so everyone looks really spiffy,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “Plus the guys had approved that the ladies could wear evening dresses or gowns. And for those first year cadets who didn’t have any uniform – since it’s optional – they dressed up in suit and tie.”
Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. Zachary use this opportunity as a senior event to praise the seniors all the while doing their own little ‘funnies’ where stories, memories, and jokes are shared. This year proved no different as Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. Zachary made fun of their twenty-four seniors.
“We just had to make fun of them,” laughed Mrs. Sullivan. “It was just little memoirs. Some of them we’ve had just this year, others since they’ve been in tenth grade so it’s nice and sad but overwhelmingly good.”
The jokes weren’t the only source of entertainment however as the seniors had collaborated their own AFJROTC ‘superlatives.’ There was also the singing of the national anthem by Cadet Childs, and even a couple of the cadets surprised the evening guests with a surprise dance routine.
“I didn’t even know about it!” exclaimed Mrs. Sullivan. “It was such a great surprise. I even heard it’s on youtube already.”
The night continued with military traditions such as the posting of colors – which is comparable to the national anthem – and also the prisoner of war missing in action ceremony where the students research a service member beforehand who either went missing in action or was killed in action, and they conduct an actual ceremony for that service member in respect to their great and ultimate sacrifice.
The guests also took part in another military ball tradition: the spirit of the mass. This is where everyone goes around trying to pick out infractions or little errors either in cadet’s uniforms or manner, and those deemed guilty of an infraction have to drink from the “spirit”: as unknown drink concocted by the head officers.
“This year, for the first time, Colonel Zachary was sent to the spirit,” Mrs. Sullivan shared. “Which I and all the kids were pretty excited about because we have never been able to find an infraction on him since he’s been here.”
Everyone seemed to have a great time at the fun filled event, making new friends and deepening relationships with fellow students and cadets.
“It was definitely a great night of fun for all the cadets,” says sophomore JROTC John Milliron, “but the best part was getting to know all of the other people in JROTC and making new friends.”
“It’s just like all the other wonderful programs here at North Penn,” elaborated Mrs. Sullivan. “You just have to find your family, your area of interest, and that’s where you find and build your friendships and where you bond. This is just another one of the wonderful events North Penn has to offer.”