Freedom High School in Bethlehem held its inaugural military signing ceremony Thursday, honoring six graduating seniors who will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The following students were honored during the ceremony:
- Faisal Aswani – Army National Guard
- Ryan Famawa – Army National Guard
- John Jabbour – U.S. Marine Corps
- Vidal Mercado – U.S. Marine Corps
- Kacey Santiago – Army National Guard
- Valerie Vasquez Pacheco – Army National Guard
Family members, faculty and local military representatives were in attendance. The ceremony replicated the spirit of traditional athletic signings, but with a focus on military service.
Andrew Lynn, a Freedom High School teacher and musician in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for more than 20 years, said the idea for a signing day came from one of the school’s secretaries, Joanne Kilpatrick.
Kilpatrick’s brother, who was killed in action in Vietnam at age 17, attended Liberty High School, which has held a signing day annually for eight years.
“Over the past 10 or so years, we have recognized our seniors going into the military by performing the service songs at graduation and having them stand to be recognized,” Lynn said. “But we wanted to do more to recognize the commitment to service that these young adults are undertaking.”
Lynn said he was proud to support his students.
“Students going into the military are walking down a path their peers aren’t willing to follow,” he said. “They are volunteering to not only put their life at risk in service to others, but are usually completely moving away from the support system that they have been in the comfort of for the past 18 or so years.”
Military signing ceremonies are part of a growing effort across the U.S. to acknowledge students who opt for military careers. High schools in Minnesota, Ohio and Oklahoma have also had signing days this year. Freedom High School’s leadership expressed pride in the graduating seniors and their decision to take on the responsibility.
Lynn said he hopes this event can become an annual tradition and advised students considering joining the military to get in touch with local military recruitment offices.
“Recruiters are always, in my experience, very friendly and happy to answer questions,” he said. “Recruiters have a vested interest in both the needs, hopes and aspirations of our students as well as those of our armed services and the nation.”
