Richardson High School – Richardson High School JROTC Completes Vietnam Wall of Remembrance Service Learning Project

Writer & Photographer – CPT Jamie Lawrence (R)

This past Sunday our JROTC Cadets completed their Annual Service-Learning Project. The project isn’t a community service event its different. The Cadets need to identify and vote on it. They must find where an impact can be made in their lives and community. They will explore something that will impact each Cadet for the rest of their lives. They must research the project, plan it and coordinate with agencies to ensure the project is met with successful impacts. This year the Cadets selected the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Texas State Fair Park Grounds. This event was significant as it allowed the Cadets to meet many Veterans from the war. They were able to talk with them and hear their stories. They learned 3,417 service men and women were killed in action and 99 of them are still missing in action from Texas. Additionally, that the very first two to be killed in action one of them was from the state of Texas.

The Cadets roles were to present colors and welcome the Motor Cycle Riders Honor Guard Platoon that travels all across America to meet at many Vietnams Memorial walls to show honor and respect to all the fallen and missing in action. The Honor Guard spends time meeting with other Vietnam veterans and share those hallowed memories together. This year the Cadets were able to meet a daughter of a missing in Action Marine Karoni, who shared her father’s story and his return home. Her father CAPT Ronald Forrester remains were laid to rest in the Arlington cemetery this past October. Meeting her allowed Cadets to see closure brought to the family for him missing in action for 51 years and not knowing of where he was. Captain Forrester’s battle details can be found at Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency with the all the other families lost loved ones. The Vietnam veterans of the Friends of Texas Vietnam Veterans Mr. Acosta and Mr. Martinez presented each Cadet with a Lapel pin for this year’s Ride to the Wall Memorial recognition to all the fallen. They appreciated them for recognizing and wanting to meet them. Cadets also were able to watch CPT Lawrence’s wife’s family member PFC Donald Boaz, US Army Paratrooper, who was killed in Action in 1968 during the TET offensive being honored by the Friends of Texas Vietnam Veterans.

The Cadets roles were to present colors and welcome the Motor Cycle Riders Honor Guard Platoon that travels all across America to meet at many Vietnam Memorial walls to show honor and respect to all the fallen and missing in action. The Honor Guard spends time meeting with other Vietnam veterans and share those hallowed memories together. This year the Cadets were able to meet a daughter of a missing in Action Marine Karoni, who shared her father’s story and his return home. Her father CAPT Ronald Forrester remains were laid to rest in the Arlington cemetery this past October. Meeting her allowed Cadets to see closure brought to the family for him missing in action for 51 years and not knowing of where he was. Captain Forrester’s battle details can be found at Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency with the all the other families lost loved ones. The Vietnam veterans of the Friends of Texas Vietnam Veterans Mr. Acosta and Mr. Martinez presented each Cadet with a Lapel pin for this year’s Ride to the Wall Memorial recognition to all the fallen. They appreciated them for recognizing and wanting to meet them. Cadets also were able to watch CPT Lawrence’s wife’s family member PFC Donald Boaz, US Army Paratrooper, who was killed in Action in 1968 during the TET offensive being honored by the Friends of Texas Vietnam Veterans.

Lastly but such great honor to have had a member Ms. Bay from the RHS Band there. This student volunteered her early morning Sunday to be a bugler at this event. She was outstanding at playing taps. She moved all those attending this event there Her Bugle sounded and reminded all there of members that have been lost over the years to each conflict and less than one percent serve have experienced. Just to see our American Flag fly so high and freely. This was a successful event to the Cadets who recognized how important our upcoming Memorial Day is 26 May 2025. POW MIA. “We will not stop looking for you and you are not forgotten”. Outstanding Job this year for the Cadets and making the time to learn about the Vietnam Wall memorial