Thanking those headed to the military is basic kindness | Opinion
In 2010, tragedy struck Cherry Hill when native son Jeremy Kane — a young member of the U.S. Marine Corps — was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.
Residents leapt into action, quickly organizing a funeral procession in his honor and lifting up his name in marquee letters.
Though appreciated, the thanks came too late.
Lance Cpl. Kane, age 22 when he died, was a 2006 graduate of Cherry Hill High School East. His decision to enlist on Sept. 11 of that year was met with more dismay than praise, according to Ken Hartman, a former U.S. Army officer and a friend of the Kane family.
That reaction is all too common this time of year: High school graduates are celebrated as they head off to college. But those who go directly into the military — as many are doing this summer — rarely receive such pomp and circumstance as they head off to basic training. (Kane actually had attended Rutgers briefly before enlisting as a reservist).
Hartman, who enlisted in the 1970s out of admiration for the institution that helped liberate his father and grandparents during World War II, decided change was in order. In 2009, he organized a celebratory dinner at a New Jersey mansion to recognize and thank new military enlistees before they depart for basic training. When he walked into the Navy Federal Credit Union branch in Cherry Hill that year asking for the branch’s support, I didn’t hesitate to say “yes.”
That inaugural event has since grown into Our Community Salutes (OCS), a national nonprofit organization Hartman heads that today holds dozens of such ceremonies around the country to honor high school graduates who are enlisting in the military.
This spring, the group held its 15th ceremony in Berlin, N.J., its flagship event. High-ranking military officials and other dignitaries spent the evening in a grand ballroom surrounded by lush gardens recognizing hundreds of graduates and their parents. They were thanked with a hearty meal and with uplifting speeches, and a military brass quintet serenaded the audience.
In addition to certificates of recognition, honored graduates received a pocket guide to the U.S. Constitution and gifts from Navy Federal and other sponsors, such as rally towels and swag bags. Enlistees now have access to an OCS online resource hub with tools to guide them as they move into military life, including resources on how to prepare for service, navigate finances, unlock educational opportunities and more.
We at Navy Federal are proud to support this important mission. This year, we supported more than 30 ceremonies across the country with volunteer support and philanthropic giving.
I encourage you to join the cause and help OCS grow and, in so doing, help change the national conversation around military service. Indeed, enlisting in the military is an act that deserves to be lifted up, not overlooked, especially this time of year, as recent high school graduates head off to Parris Island, S.C., the western shores of Lake Michigan, and other far-flung basic-training sites.
At minimum, be sure to thank the young enlistees in your life before they leave. Our military community needs enlistees who feel valued, and our national security depends on it.
Peter Forcinito is an employee of Navy Federal Credit Union and former manager of its Cherry Hill branch.
