ATLANTA (February 26, 2018) | Sens. Larry Walker (R – Perry) and John F. Kennedy (R – Macon) welcomed Byron Elementary School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to the state Capitol on Friday, February 23, 2018. Byron Elementary School, located in Peach County, is the only elementary school in Georgia to offer a Junior ROTC program.
“It is always a pleasure to welcome students from our community,” said Sen. Walker. “But it especially brings me great joy to see such young students taking the initiative to learn the ideals and values of citizenship and service to the United States, along with personal responsibility. These students are tomorrow’s leaders and I continue to wish them the best as they train and learn more about our nation’s military and ways they can give back to their community.”
Byron Elementary’s Navy Junior ROTC has more than 60 student members. The students participate in drill practice twice a week, wear uniforms every Thursday, in addition to raising and lowering the American flag daily. Upon admission to the program, students have to be in academic and behavioral good standing. The Junior ROTC program works to positively impact students by providing them with a sense of purpose. This unique program was started by Byron Elementary School Principal Keith Lauritsen and Coach Sheldon Almond who hope it can be replicated throughout the state.
# # # #
February 27, 2018
Elisabeth Fletcher, Communications Specialist
elisabeth.fletcher@senate.ga.gov
Senate Press Office