Courtesy photo.
SANTA MARIA — Approximately 60 SMJUHSD seniors are answering the call of military service and will join the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines after graduation.
Recruiters and staff will honor them in a special drive-thru ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m. tonight at Righetti High School’s bus loading zone. They will receive stoles from their recruiters to wear over their gowns. Social distancing will be the top mission.
Warrior Teacher Samuel “Dutch” Van Patten described the students as true heroes.
“I wish we could honor these brave students like they deserve but in these times a drive through ceremony is the best we can do,’’ Van Patten said. “These students have made a choice to protect the rest of our rights and freedoms. God bless them and thank you to all of them.”
Here are the numbers:
Navy
3 RHS. 2 SM.
Air Force
2 RHS. 3 PV.
Army
6 RHS. 4 SM. 2 PV. 1 Delta.
Marines
8 RHS. 5 SM. 19 PV. 4 Delta.
This is the first year all the SMJUHSD schools (Righetti, Santa Maria, Pioneer Valley and Delta High Schools have joined forces as a group. This will be the third year for RHS.