High school graduates who will all enroll in military academies this fall and gathered on Memorial Day for high praise from U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas.
“If anybody has any concerns about the future of this country, if you spend time with these young men and women, it will give you confidence we are in the right hands,” former Congresman Pete Geren said.
The senator's office has organized this send-off event for last 12 years.
The ceremony brings together young people from across the state of Texas, introducing them to leaders who have been where they're going. It gives them a chance to meet other young Texans heading off to college in military settings.
Applying to the service academies isn't easy, it's an accomplishment these students have worked hard to achieve.
“To be a part of that handful that got in is pretty awesome,” Chloe Kiniry said.
The ceremony also celebrates the parents, grandparents, and support systems that pushed the students to be great.
“We all need the love and support of our families to make the most of our potential in life, and so it's not just about the hard work and the self-discipline of these young people who've accomplished a lot in their young lives, it's also their families,” said Sen. Cornyn, who also noted that the ceremony is held on Memorial Day for a reason. “It is a sobering reminder that this is about sacrifice too, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
After their four years at the academies, these students will join the ranks of active duty military members, continuing the give back to the country they love. It’s another reason so many are so proud of who they are and what they will become.