JCPS honors county veterans with annual celebration

Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County Public Schools held its 17th annual Veterans Day celebration to honor and recognize all Johnston County veterans for their service Nov. 11.

Due to the continuing pandemic, the event was held virtually again this year.

“Our veterans have done so much for our country that our district worked to ensure this year’s celebration, albeit virtual, honored our men and women of the United States Armed Forces the best and safest way possible,” said Caitlin Furr, executive director of communication for Johnston County Public Schools.

Participants of the virtual ceremony included retired Fort Bragg Chief of Operations Pascal Goicoechea, Johnston

County Director of Veterans Services Robert Boyette, Junior Reserve Officer Training cadets from seven JCPS high schools, the 2020 Johnston County All- County Chorus, the Corinth Holders High School Marching Band, and the North Johnston High Chorus.

Goicoechea delivered the keynote address. Born and raised in Cuba, in 1960, he and his family came to the United States. They moved to Texas and he learned English with a “Texas harmony and twang” to it. To further him along, his English teacher gave him a history book to read at home.

In 1969, Goicoechea was at a crossroads in his life. He shared that he was in college for all the wrong reasons and was headed nowhere fast. On July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, that moment led him to enlist in the military. “I fell in love with the discipline,” he said. In 1977, “GoGo,” as he is known by his comrades, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army.

Over the next 33 years he served mostly in worldwide command assignments, in garrison (military outposts) and combat environments. In 2010 he retired as Chief of operations at Fort Bragg. He and his wife currently reside in Clayton, and he serves as a member of the Clayton Rotary.

He spoke of being part of an exclusive 1% club that makes up the U.S. Armed Forces. Although he and his fellow comrades were from diverse backgrounds, they molded into one. “We lost the words ‘me’ and ‘I’ and became ‘us,’” he said.

Goicoechea praised the role of women in the military. “Women make up 19% of the entire fighting force and without which the other 81% would not get the green light without their support,” he said.

He gave advice to JCPS JROTC cadets, the focus of this year’s celebration. In addition to honoring current and retired veterans, this year’s celebration highlighted the next generation of veterans. Lastly, he told the JROTC cadets, “Be aware that the freedoms we enjoy today were earned by millions of men and women who sacrificed so much to be part of that 1 percent club.”

Johnston County Public Schools has seven JROTC programs in high schools throughout the county, totaling approximately 650 young men and women.

“My favorite thing about JROTC is how close you end up getting to people you didn’t even know,“ she said. “Friends become family and that’s what I like about it,” said North Johnston High School cadet Johanna Morales.

Once Morales graduates, she plans to go to college, study criminal justice, and then become an officer in the Marines. For anyone thinking of joining JROTC, her advice is to simply do it.

Clayton High School freshman Zhaionne Sison saw JROTC as a way to “be a part of something meaningful.” Sison remembered JROTC cadets coming to her middle school and performing the color guard for different events which inspired her to join.

She already has a plan for after high school that consists of college and becoming an interpreter. Sison also wants to learn sign language so she can help people with disabilities. “I have learned to be more confident,” she said. “The skills I’ve learned will help me a lot with leading my own life, making those hard decisions and having the discipline to keep my priorities straight.”

West Johnston County High School seniors A’Rheanna Turay and Breanna Stephenson talked about their future plans. Turay’s plans include attending medical school and becoming a military physician. Stephenson is hopeful for a military scholarship to attend Michigan State University. She wants to study criminal justice, become a private investigator and get assigned to a case that will be followed by the public worldwide.

Pfc Zachary Barefoot said joining JROTC was the best decision he ever made. A 2020 graduate of South Johnston High School, Barefoot was inspired by his father who was in the military. “He showed me what I was going to be a part of,” he said.

Barefoot graduated early and immediately enlisted in the National Guard. He has now completed his Advanced Individual Training and plans to use his benefits from the National Guard to attend college.

Johnston County Director of Veterans Services Robert Boyette is a retired veteran with 30 years served in the Army. Raised in Johnston and Harnett counties, he entered the military at age 18.

For Boyette, Veterans Day is “an opportunity to celebrate, honor, and remember the sacrifices of the men and women who have served so that we may enjoy our freedom and the benefits of our democracy.”

He is encouraged to see JROTC cadets taking up the torch as the next generation of veterans. “They’re carrying on a tradition,” he stated. “I’m encouraged to know that young people care about our country.”

The online program was posted on the district’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Following the online celebration, all Johnston County veterans were invited to Smithfield-Selma High School for a curbside meal. The campus was decorated with 50 American Flags, which were provided by the Rotary Club. In total, JCPS students and staff served nearly 600 meals to Johnston County veterans and their families.