Students Working To Make Pearl Harbor Trip

Wednesday, October 24th 2007, 2:41 pm

By: News On 6

December 7th will mark the 66th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This year a memorial will be dedicated to the sailors and marines who died aboard the USS Oklahoma. The News On 6â€™s Rick Wells reports the Claremore High School Naval Junior ROTC has been asked to take part in the dedication. That has the group raising money to make the trip to Hawaii.

Members of the Claremore High School Navy Junior ROTC gathered Wednesday in the commons area at the high school where they were presented with a large check. Dave Burrows of the Claremore High School Alumni Association presented the group with a check for $500 to help finance the trip. That money will be added to $750 donated by the Claremore Quarterback Club.

The Claremore ROTC cadet have been asked to be the official color guard at a ceremony where a memorial will be dedicated to the 429 sailors and marines who died on board the USS Oklahoma in the December 7th 1941 attack. The dedication is part of Oklahomaâ€™s Centennial.

The cadets see the trip as an amazing opportunity. But, those sometimes can be expensive. Kati Lortz is the commander of the ROTC unit. She says they've asked for a Navy airlift to get them to Pearl Harbor.

"To take everybody we need to take, if we get the airlift, it will cost about $5,000,â€ said Kati Lortz.

If they don't get help from the Navy, it'll cost about twice as much and they'll have to reduce the number of people who get to go.

Aside from the honor of being part of a significant patriotic ceremony, theyâ€™ll get to learn more about a major event in our history.

"I didn't really understand the sacrifices our veterans have made. It's a great opportunity for us to go there and be the color guard,â€ said cadet Anna Pate.

The cadets have several fundraisers already scheduled. To find out more, click here.

Watch the video: Local ROTC To Take Part In U.S.S. Oklahoma Memorial