Jesuit alumni who participated in the school’s MCJROTC program returned to Carrollton and Banks on the afternoon of June 1 to celebrate the very first MCJROTC Alumni Homecoming. Nearly 200 people, including several Jays who traveled many miles, gathered in the Student Commons to enjoy a meal prepared by the parents of today’s cadets, refreshments compliments of the advancement office, and a slide show by alumni director Mat Grau ’68 on the history of military training at Jesuit through the years (and that goes back to the College of the Immaculate Conception).

The program began with an invocation given by Fr. Cmdr. Paul Shaughnessy, S.J., Jesuit’s alumni chaplain and himself a former military chaplain, followed by the presentation of Colors by the cadet Color Guard and the singing of the National Anthem. As is the case at all alumni homecomings, the Blue Jay alums received a gift from today’s program, in this case a beautiful military “challenge coin” bearing the Marine Corps emblem on one side and the Jesuit seal on the other with “MCJROTC Alumnus” beneath it.

The Bladys—Dylan, Donna, Lauren, and Darren—present LtCol Tim Huete ’76 with a framed map of the Normandy invasion.

The highlight of the event certainly was the “hail and farewell” for LtCol. Tim Huete ’76, who is retiring after 18 years at the helm of Jesuit’s MCJROTC program. Before LtCol. Huete expressed his thoughts and appreciation, three Blue Jays offered their testimonials on the occasion – Capt. Patrick Huete ’84, USN, LtCol. Huete’s brother, and D.J. Galiano ’07 and Adam Laurie, who both served under Huete as students. Also recognizing LtCol. Huete was MGySgt J.R. Piseno, who has assisted LtCol. Huete for the past 13 years. The festivities concluded with cake, cut by the honoree LtCol. Huete and enjoyed by all.

The event was co-sponsored by Jesuit’s advancement office and the MCJROTC program. Special thanks go out to parent Donna Bladdy, who marshalled the parent troops in providing the meal, and D.J. Galiano and the maintenance staff for their hard work in setting up and breaking down.