War doesn't scare students
Thursday, May 15, 2008
HAMILTON — Sara Walden and Kyle Janutolo share a common interest — a desire to serve and defend their country.
The Hamilton High School seniors, along with 16 classmates, were honored Thursday, May 15, for choosing to enlist in the military.
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Representatives from each branch of the Armed Forces chosen by the students were present at the reception.
"We truly appreciate and commend you for your eagerness to defend the freedoms we all enjoy in the United States," said Tamea Marsh, a HHS guidance counselor. "We recognize that your decisions to serve were not easy to make given the real threat to our nation's freedom by those who are determined to destroy it.
"We are proud and comforted by America's strong military and it is the dedication and hard work of young people, like our 18 students that we honor today, that makes our military strong and keeps our country safe from those who would like to harm us."
Enlistees honored were: Air Force — Peter Amaro, Tyler Wehrung; Army — Mark Geter, Mike Mulle; Marines — William Cox, Dennis Donahue, Andrew Hoelle, Kyle Janutolo, Dustin Lema, Matthew Lyttle, Anthony Manczak, George "Eddie" North, Richard Turner, David Van Dyne and Nicholas Wilson; Navy — Chelsey King, Justin Stafford and Sara Walden.
Janutolo said he realized when he signed up last year there was a possibility he could be shipped to Iraq, but that doesn't scare him.
"I wanted to do something with my life," he said. "I wanted to do something for my country and give back as much as it has given to me."
Walden said she chose the Navy because "I'd rather be shooting from a ship than on land."
She believes that enlisting seemed like a better opportunity than going to college and being in debt.
"I have a good feeling ... and feel in my heart that she is making the right decision," said Cathy Bippus, Walden's mother. "It will be an adventure.
"She has always been very independent and a go getter," Bippus said. "She joined the ROTC her sophomore year and we knew right then that was her style ... she fit right in with the whole military atmosphere."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.
