Hometown
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 14, 2007
Military News
Central High School's Navy Junior ROTC unit has recently been designated as Area Seven's "Signature Unit," the first school ever awarded this designation, and is authorized to fly the Area Seven pennant.
Cmdr. Dirk P. Hebert, manager of Area Seven, sent congratulations to Central High School's NJROTC unit.
"For four straight years, Central High School NJROTC has been the best program in the state of Florida and Area Seven, and recognized as the 'Number One Unit' in the nation in 2006, following an unprecedented ranking of number two the previous year," said Hebert.
"The simple standard bearer known as the 'guidon/pennant' you are receiving represents the critical focal point of a unit's leadership, unity and strength," Hebert said.
According to Hebert, the pennant was thought to have originated in Egypt, was formalized in Europe, and later was adopted by the U. S. Marine Corps as a symbol of a unit's formation and its ability to maintain discipline and strength in the face of any foe and on any battlefield.
Over the years, the guidon/pennant has become the identifying symbol of a unit.
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Central High School Navy Jr. ROTC Cadet Lauren McKenna was recently promoted to the rank of cadet/captain.
Of the nearly 100,000 cadets in 625 units throughout the nation, only 10 currently wear the rank of cadet/captain, including Michael Territo, Roar Regiment's commanding officer. However, McKenna is the only unit executive officer in the entire NJROTC program nationwide authorized to wear this rank.
"Your unique position as the Regimental Commander of Troops in the most vibrant, most successful and most dynamic program in Area Seven and the entire country, and your direct partnership with the Central High School Roar Regimental Commander mandate this recognition," said Cmdr. Dirk P. Hebert.
Clubs and Organizations
At a recent meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill, three individuals were welcomed as guests of the club.
Fran Mancuso, Ann Faith and Janet Dick were invited for a special presentation that Al Johnson, club president, made during the meeting. Mrs. Mancuso is the widow of former member Barney Mancuso, who died in 2006 at age 91.
Liborio Joseph "Barney" Mancuso was a member of Kiwanis for more than 50 years. He was all about helping children, which is why Kiwanis was a perfect fit for him.
Back a few years ago, Faith, a registered nurse with the Hernando County Health Department who helps oversee school health programs, visited the club to discuss the needs she and other nurses saw in Hernando schools, needs she hoped the Kiwanis would help with. And that's where Barney Mancuso came in. The presentation Faith gave touched his heart, and he pushed for the club to help.
With Mancuso's persistence, the club adopted the Kids in Need project. After Mancuso passed away, the project was renamed Barney's Kids in his memory.
Last year, according to Faith, Barney's Kids helped 53 students with new clothes and shoes. This year, when invited to the meeting, Faith was positive the club would once again support the project. What she wasn't expecting was how much support she would receive.
Johnson introduced Faith and Dick, who both spoke about the project and read thank-you letters written by children. When Johnson presented a check for $2,200, Faith squealed in shock and delight, and then cried.
According to club records, $460 of the check was donated by Mrs. Mancuso and her family, and another $100 was donated from Jenny Crane, in memory of her late husband, Dave Crane. The remainder was a donation from the club.
Notes of Thanks
Members of the Hernando Aero Modelers Remote Control Aircraft Club would like to say thank you to Cemex, on U.S. 98 north of Brooksville, for graciously giving us a new field to meet on.
Our club had been looking for a new place to fly our planes for about a year since we learned we could no longer fly at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation.
The club is planning a grand opening/dedication event to celebrate our new location. The event will include a ribbon cutting and speeches followed by flight demonstrations. But until then, we would like to thank Cemex publicly for their generosity.
Jim Anderson, vice president
Hernando Aero Modelers Remote Control Aircraft Club
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