On Thursday, May 18 the Cranston East auditorium was packed with supportive and proud family and friends of the 34th JROTC Corp of Cadets.

The event was overseen by COL (Retired) Jason Lafferty, the Senior Army Instructor of the JROTC Program.

"Command Sergeant Major Moniz and I would like to welcome everyone to today’s 2023 Cranston High School East Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps end of year awards ceremony for the 34th Corps of Cadets. I am honored and humbled to preside over today’s ceremony which celebrates our Cadets and their many amazing accomplishments. The utter pride and joy I feel to have been blessed to lead such a remarkable organization comprised of these incredibly driven students who are the future of the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America," he said.

Lafferty went on to extoll the virtues of the Cadets.

"The cadets you see here before you possess the very best qualities, values and leadership skills amongst their peers and whose futures are extremely bright and their potential, limitless. I stand here before you to state that after having mentored hundreds of young men and women in the art of leadership through my last 23 years of service, that our CHSE JROTC cadets are amongst the best I have ever coached and mentored and that their course of study here in the JROTC program is vital in their overall education and that the civic lessons of stewardship of our core national values are critical in the preservation of our Constitutional Republic," he said.

The cadets participating in the CHSE JROTC Program receive a balanced educational and growth experience through the course of their four years of study that is unmatched.

"They are the living example of the words spoken by President John F. Kennedy, when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.Lafferty said.

Before presenting the awards, Lafferty expressed his gratitude to all the organizations that support the Corps.

"I must first thank all the organizations who make this event possible.  I’ve said many times before; these organizations don’t do it for money or recognition.  Their generosity is inspired by Citizenship, Love of Country and Patriotism.  Without them and their generous spirit, we just simply couldn’t do this event," he said.

Lafferty recognized the 21 organizations giving out awards, and he expressed thanks to Principal Mr. Thomas Barbieri and the Administrative staff and teachers.

He went on to explain how and why the Cadets were chosen for the awards.

"Every Cadet being recognized today has distinguished themselves in some way over the past school year.  Whether it be their ability and willingness to lead, or their quest for academic achievement, all adhere to the tenets outlined in the Army JROTC Cadet Creed. Today, the young men and women being recognized have gone above and beyond our expectations and have excelled as Army Junior ROTC Cadets.  This year, they are recognized as some of the best of the 34th  Corps of Cranston Cadets," he said.

Following the Presentation of Colors, and the National Anthem, awards were presented in Unit Level, Academic and Leadership & Character.

Lafferty went on to explain the type of awards being given out. And,, he would announce the presenter of each award, give a brief statement about the organization.

The first two awards for Best in Drill and Best in Academics were given to Alpha Company.

Best Cadet Command Essays were presented to; Sean Heap, Evangeline Quintana,, Busra E. Can and Isabella M. Ba.

For each grade level, awards were given for Academic Excellence Medal LET 1 Desiree Hardy, LET 2 Evangeline Quintana, LET 3 Busra E. Can and LET 4 Isabella M. Ba.

Distinguished Cadet Medal was given to Danny Song, and the National Honor Society Medal was bestowed upon Samantha G. Vernancio,, Busra E. Can and Harlenys Lopez.

The Leadership & Character awards were presented next.

Veterans of Foreign Wars. Achievement: Kevin R. Yeth and Leadership:  Samanta R. Arevalo.

American Legion: Military excellence: Desiree Hardy and Academic Excellence:  Shou Jun Shi.

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was presented to Daniel Perez and Ricardo S. Vasquez Pineda.

The Military Officer Association of America was given to Imani Machado.

The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the U.S. was bestowed upon Jackie Joaquin Pena and Tyler F. Robinson.

The Scottish Rite of Free Masonry went to Harlenys Lopez.

National Sojourners presented their award to Jacob H. Tanguay.

Achilles Sem received the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Cadets who received their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Wings were Victor E. Alonzo, Isabella M. Ba, Amaya Cabral, Alexiah J. Francisco, Desiree Hardy, Pangzong A. Kue, Tyler F. Robinson, Miguel Santino B. Guerro, Vibol Sothea, Jacob H. Yanguay and Christopher D'Ambra Goodison Jr.

Army Warrant officer Association:

     Dayron Perez

     Laura  Diaz Sanchez

     Jeremiah A. Martinez

     Julia Avril Babalato

The Non–Commissioned Officer Association award was given to Jonathan J. Quiroa.

Victor E. Alonzo received the Reserve Officer Association Award.

Military Order of World Wars went to Ansony A. Chavarria Luis.

Chris D’Ambra Goodinson Jr. and Alexis Franco received the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Award.

The Sons of American Revolution Awards went to: State Award was given to Samantha G. Vernancio and the Unit Award to Noah Gong.

Daughters of American Revolution presented their award to Amaya K. Cabral.

Melissa Gomez received the Order of the Daedalion.

RI Army National Guard gave their award to Abby C. Smith.

The U.S. Army Recruiting Command was presented to Isaac N. Barbosa and Alexiah J. Francisco.

Isabella M. Ba received the Vietnam Veterans of America award.

The Special Forces Association went to Euon Lorenzo Flor.

Amaya K. Cabral was given the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. This was the very first year this award has been presented. 

The United States Army Command Superior Cadets was given to one student at every grade level. This year's winners were:

Leadership Education Training Level 1, Cadet Pangzong Kue, Leadership Education Training Level 2 Cadet Adrian J. Rosales Lopez, Leadership Education Training Level 3 Cadet Busra E. Can and Leadership Education Training Level 4

Cadet Alexiah J. Francisco.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Army Song and a Battalion Photograph.

First a big thank you to Colonel and Sgt Major for their dedication and support to this program.

“We are so proud of the accomplishments of our JROTC Cadets - they represent our core values and beliefs of what it means to be a Bolt. We are confident that they have many more accomplishments as their journey continues,” said East Principal. Tom Barbie