A special day yesterday afternoon, it was Orange High School’s first military-signing ceremony, similar to the signing ceremonies that high schools hold for student-athletes to sign letters of intent for their chosen colleges. A recruiter from one of the military branches took the mic to talk about each student, and several of the recruiters commented that they were impressed with Orange for giving the recruits this recognition.
Olentangy Liberty High School will hold a similar event Thursday for its six military-bound 12th-graders.
This Orange event was the brainchild of Orange Township resident and Army veteran Gregg Flowers, who said the Orange staff was extremely responsive to his ideas.
“Many of you veterans sitting here today never got the respect you should when you came home,” Flowers told the audience. “I wanted to make sure they got that respect before they even left Orange Township.”
Bryce Koci, 18, ships off in August for Army basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. He has dreamed about serving since he was about 8, he said.
Also going into the Army from Orange High are Sarah Leskovich and Drew Row. Erin Barr will attend the Air Force Academy. Grant Batten and Michael Miller will be in the Air Force ROTC at Bowling Green State University. Jennifer Brann is going into the Air Force Reserve. Trenton Closson and Sebastian Guess are entering the Army National Guard. Destiny Lugo is going to the Marines. Navy-bound are Carson Briggs, Brayden Creasap and Austin Hall.