McClain Cadet Corps earns Americanism Award from VFW Auxiliary

Members of the McClain High School Cadet Corps were honored recently with a state award, after the Hillsboro VFW Auxiliary Post 9094 nominated the group in recognition of their “support of Americanism in their community.”

The group was chosen among nominees from across Ohio for recognition at the VFW Auxiliary Department of Ohio’s June convention, held at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Sandusky June 5-8. The award — as well as an accompanying prize of a 150-quart, extra-large Igloo cooler — was accepted by Hillsboro VFW Auxiliary Post 9094 President Steph Roland and Senior Vice President Becky Williams at the convention. 

In turn, Roland and Hillsboro VFW Auxiliary Post 9094 Trustee Kathe Chaney presented the prizes to the Cadet Corps at The Highland County Press office in Hillsboro July 23. Accepting the award were Cadet Corps leader Master Sergeant John Wilson and the following Cadet Corps members: Group Commander Sarah Kegley, Squadron Commander Jayden Lanning, Cadet Second Lieutenant Kathryn Foster, Cadet Second Lieutenant Emma Marsh and Cadet Second Lieutenant Ava Wilson.  

Formed in 2018, the McClain Cadet Corps is dedicated to community service in Greenfield and beyond, with projects throughout Highland County and southern Ohio. According to Angela Shepherd of Greenfield Exempted Village Schools as well as Wilson, that includes presenting the colors for a number of area events, including McClain athletic events as well as 12 Cincinnati Reds games since 2022. The Cadet Corps members also organize blood drives, volunteer with area food pantries, assist with area events and provide military honors for veterans’ funerals.

According to Wilson, the Cadet Corps logged 2,987.5 community service hours at 162 events during the 2024-25 school year. For the first month of the new school year, in June, the group had already contributed 188 hours at 18 events, Wilson said.

Roland said this June marked the first time she was able to attend the VFW Auxiliary Department of Ohio’s state convention, and in preparing for the trip, she learned about the Americanism Award and submitted a nomination under a tight deadline. The award is for VFW auxiliaries to “recognize a business, an organization and/or youth group that support Americanism in their community,” according to the application.

“You cadets took the award for a youth organization, and this is out of the state, so we were excited, to say the least,” Roland said. “I announced to the membership that I actually took this upon myself to do this because there was a deadline and I wanted to not miss it. When I told all the members what I’d done, they were ecstatic.” 

As submitted by Roland: “According to the National Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, ‘Americanism is an unfailing love of country, loyalty to its institutions and ideas; eagerness to defend it against all enemies; undivided allegiance to the flag; and a desire to secure the blessings of liberty and posterity.’ 

“The Americanism Program within the VFW Auxiliary includes promoting patriotism by celebrating America’s patriotic days, teaching respect and proper care for the U.S. flag, flag education for kids, bringing attention to Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action by recognizing, remembering or even hosting POW/MIA ceremonies to both educate the public and honor these special veterans, setting up a Missing Man Table, and really, just doing things to help reiterate how fortunate we are for our freedoms, thanks to our U.S. Military veterans.”

Roland read the group the award nomination she submitted, which said: “The McClain Cadets are avid in supporting veterans and their families, as well as their extended community, as a whole. These cadets are in high school full-time. Many participate in year-round extracurricular activities, yet still make time for community service projects almost weekly, if not more. 

“They come from many different backgrounds, but like the military, they serve as one, for all. Each year, these kids easily bank thousands of volunteer hours and have recently even been selected multiple times to be the color presenters for the Cincinnati Reds. 

“They are dedicated, hard-working and determined to make a positive difference for those around them. We are proud of each of them.”

Roland said that in conjunction with the award, the state Auxiliary offered to purchase a gift for the Cadet Corps, and she suggested the cooler. She laughed as she recounted going on stage to accept the award and having to carry the cooler — which was large enough to fit at least one Cadet Corps member — off the elevated stage.

“Thank goodness I made Becky go with me, because we didn't see that [cooler] until someone else was carrying it up on the stage,” Roland said.

Wilson said they would remember the Auxiliary “every time we use” the cooler, “which will probably be frequently,” as he said they would be using it for water for their many activities. He also asked Roland to provide a VFW logo sticker or plaque to put on the cooler as a sign of their appreciation.

As mentioned, the Cadet Corps’ community service projects do not stop over the summer, as that counts as the beginning of the new school year, Wilson said. Some of their recent activities include the aforementioned Cincinnati Reds games, as well as volunteering at the Greenfield Music Festival, the Hillsboro Festival of the Bells and the Chillicothe VA and with Main Street Greenfield. Both Roland and Wilson encourage the community to follow the Cadet Corps on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10001738486853 or search McClain Cadet Corps) to see updates on their projects.

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