Uncategorized

WPHS Honors Future Soldiers For Committing To Military

By JOSELYN KING 3 min read

WHEELING - Nine seniors at Wheeling Park High School are set to enter the military, and Friday, school officials held a red, white, and blue celebration to honor their commitment.

WPHS hosted its fourth annual "Military Signing Day" on Friday in the school's Innovative Learning Center.

The recruits honored included Xavior Roberts (U.S. Army), Ethan Brown and Kameron Dietrich (U.S. Navy), Selena Provost (West Virginia Air National Guard), and Noah Cross, Logan Darby, Mariah Fisher, Carrett Haggerty, and Hayden Robbins (West Virginia Army National Guard).

Wheeling Middle School special education teacher and current "West Virginia Teacher of the Year" Tiffany Stephen addressed the recruits during the ceremony. Stephen, a veteran who served two tours in the Iraq War with the U.S. Army Military Police, reminded the recruits that they are among just 1% of Americans who commit to the military.

"You guys are willing to sacrifice, willing to serve, and willing to stand in the gap when others don't," she said. "Freedom in this nation wasn't given. It was fought for. People bled for it.

"You think about teenagers your age who filled the gap. They passed the freedom down. They paid for it. You will be paying for it."

Stephen noted that it was while she was stationed in Iraq that she came to understand how past sacrifices for freedom have benefitted Americans. She saw bombed-out buildings, children without shoes, and young females unable to participate in sports or receive equal treatment in Iraqi society.

There were also many people struggling without clean water or electricity, she said.

"I was looking around seeing that and realized we will never experience that," she said. "Maybe we will someday... but not while you are protecting our freedom. We don't have to do that here because of people like you.

"We don't have to worry about our kids not being able to go out and enjoy a hot dog and a baseball game. We don't have to worry about war going on in our backyard."

Stephen told the recruits that because of their sacrifices, their children will have opportunities, choices, and "the freedom to have a dream."

"I'm not going to lie to you. This is going to be hard," she continued. "It's not easy dealing with the things that come along with being a military member. But that's why you're here. You can do hard things."

Each of the students stood and was welcomed into the military with certificates from their respective recruiting officers: U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Woodlief, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Brandon Brooks, and West Virginia National Guard Sgt. Andrea Gump.

Starting at /week.