Hillhouse JROTC Cadets Show Thanks

For the second year in a row, cadets from James Hillhouse High School Army JROTC volunteered to spend their Saturday giving back to veterans by serving a Thanksgiving meal at the West Haven VA Hospital. 

The cadets served approximately 30 meals to veterans and their family members. The veterans enjoyed turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, cranberry sauce and rolls. They had a wide variety of pies to choose from for dessert including, pumpkin, sweet potato, apple and rhubarb.

The veterans were grateful for cadets volunteering because it made the meal feel more like home and a family atmosphere with young people around instead of only the hospital staff.

The cadets ranged in grade level from freshman to senior, which provided a unique opportunity for them to speak to the veterans about their individual experiences in the JROTC program and how its mission to motivate young people to be better citizens has helped them be successful.

It also allowed the cadets to interact with the veterans and hear stories of their time in the military. They met a Marine veteran from New Haven who attended Lee High School currently known as Career High School. He jokingly remarked that he knew all too well about Hillhouse High School, reminiscing about his old high school rivalry.

In addition to serving a Thanksgiving meal last year the cadets also spent time with the veterans reading, playing cards and singing by the piano. They also helped out by running different stations at a carnival held over the summer. The cadets are looking forward to the next opportunity to spend time with the veterans to remind them that they are not forgotten.