MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE

Teenagers send thank yous to wounded veterans

By Beth Fisher

CREATED Jan. 16, 2013

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  • Students in the JROTC program at Mojave HS are making blankets for war veterans Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Teenagers take plenty of heat for being self absorbed but we met a group of students from Mojave High School that are just the opposite.  They are sending handmade quilts to injured war veterans and including a thank you letter in each box.

Cadets with the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Mojave HS wear their uniforms with pride. And they have great respect for the men and women who serve us every day.  Men like Josephine Stipes' own father. "He missed his birthday, my Mom's anniversary, and Christmas three times."
 
Cadets are packaging handmade quilt made by a Northern Nevada quilting club and sending them along with a thank-you letter to wounded veterans across the country.
 
Cadet Nyomi DeJesus says, "When young people take the time out to recognize a veteran so you can have freedoms you have, it's very important."
 
Each package is sent by cadets who appreciate and admire the sacrifice. And some who've sacrificed plenty themselves. With tears streaming down her face, Stipes says, "I wanted to join the JROTC because my dad is military. So I think it's honorable to be supportive of what he's done."
 
Cadet Stipes' father is home now and we would like to thank him for his service. Also Cadet DeJesus lost a family member in the Vietnam war and we thank her family for their sacrifice as well.
 
Obviously not every student in the JROTC program has such a personal reason for joining the program, but they are all disciplined, well spoken, respectful young people and we applaud each of them.