Celebrating Students Choosing the Military

95 Military recruits from 43 area school districts heard one message at Windsor Central High School on Wednesday night – thank you. 

The District hosted the Our Community Salutes First to Say Thank you event for the fifth time. Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a national, non-profit organization helping communities recognize, honor and support high school seniors who plan to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation.

“Each year, we look forward to recognizing students from throughout the area who are choosing to dedicate the next chapter of their lives to serving our country. It is our honor to show these young men and women, and their families, our appreciation,” said Dr. Jason Andrews, Superintendent of the Windsor Central School District. 

Seven young men and women standing in matching blue shirts in front of a stage

The students are from districts both inside Broome County and outside, including Pennsylvania. There are students entering the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army National Guard.

Four Windsor seniors were among those honored. Michael McDaniels is joining the U.S. Army. Shan Hong, Alex Hubal, and Jenna Murdock are each entering the U.S. Navy. Murdock will be the fourth generation of her family to enlist in the Navy, joining her great grandfather, grandfather, mother, and older brother.

“This means a lot. I’m glad I go to a school that supports this. Others don’t,” said Murdock. “At my mother’s high school, they wouldn’t even let recruiters on campus. At her graduation, they didn’t announce what she was doing. I’m lucky Windsor and other schools support the Military.”

While Murdock is fourth-generation Military, Hong is first-generation American.

“My parents came here and have worked non-stop. I can take a little of the stress off by having them have to pay for two children to go to college instead of three,” said Hong. “I think this is my best way of helping. I want to create my own family and show them that I can be great. I have some national pride as well.”

Murdock will study to become a physical therapist, while Hong will become a Culinary Specialist.

“I’ll hopefully become a chef but I have to work my way up to that. I may one day cook for heads of state, or at the White House. I just have to work hard, and I’m not scared to do that,” said Hong. 

The event also generated a great deal of national and local media coverage. CBS This Morning featured the event. You can see their coverage here.

You can find local coverage of the event here, and here

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