'Commitment and community': Forest Hills honors 11 seniors who are joining military
May 14—SIDMAN, Pa. — Eleven Forest Hills High School seniors who are joining the U.S. military were honored Monday at the school.
"I've always had a dream of going into the Navy," said Shawn Yatsky, one of the 11. "Now that I finally get the chance, why not do it?"
Yatsky is continuing a family legacy of military service. He said his brother is in the Navy, both of his parents are Navy veterans and his paternal grandfather was in the Army.
He enlisted in the Navy with his cousin, Dallas Yatsky, who was another of the 11 students honored.
James McKendree joined the Space Force. Brian Primavera and David Roberts joined the Marine Corps. Quinn Yuschick, T.J. Carroll, Kory Marsalko, Daimen Box, Devin King and Monica Krug are going to the Army National Guard.
Yuschick wasn't sure the National Guard was the best choice for him at first, but after talking to a recruiter, he knew it would be a good fit and help him with his personal goals, he said.
For McKendree, the choice to join the Space Force was clear. He initially planned to join the Air Force, but the more he heard about the Space Force, the more it seemed like a better fit, he said.
"It seemed to be more beneficial to me" than college, McKendree said.
McKendree said he plans to get involved with a technology- based career while in the military. He was surprised to see so many of his classmates sign up too, he added.
For his mother, Jennifer Brown, an 11-year Army veteran, having her son enlist was a proud moment. She said she was happy that the school recognized her son and his peers for their decisions to join the military.
"I'm very excited," she said.
Forest Hills High School Principal Rebecca Roberts said it is not typical to have nearly a dozen students join the military from a senior class of 128. She said it was important to recognize their decisions in the same way other students are honored with signing days.
"When you have 11 kids going into the armed forces, I think it speaks volumes about ... commitment and community," said Roberts, who helped organize the event and took photos of the recruits, their family members and military personnel in attendance.
Army National Guard recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Landis said the students' decision to enlist is honorable and should be recognized.
"I'm pretty thankful to be here for my soldiers," he said.
Cambria County Commissioner Keith Rager, a Marine Corps veteran who was there representing the Marines, shared a similar message.
"This is a very great day," he said. "Hats off to the recruiters, and hats off to the school."
