Page 111 - Life_In_Naples_Magazine_January_2015
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REBECCA DOLCE
says Burns. “David has joined the Navy
and will leave in March for boot camp.”
As a parent, Burns feels the JROTC
program has had a positive impact on
her son.
“He has become a wonderful young
man that we love and are very proud
of,” says Burns who along with fellow
PAUL GARRAH AND REBECCA DOLCE Booster Club parents supports JROTC
cadets and instructors, providing food,
“The great thing about JROTC is there is something for everyone and we also volunteer transportation, chaperones, fundraising
at a wide variety of events and activities,” he says. and just being there to cheer on the
JROTC is brimming with success stories. Former cadet Djeunie Saint Louis is
cadets. “It doesn’t matter what school
graduating from U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ms. Saint Louis is one of
your child attends – you are proud of
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah’s former cadets from Golden Gate High School and a first
all the cadets and you cheer for all of
generation American. He is attending the graduation and is giving her the commissioning them to succeed in life.”
oath in uniform. Lieutenant Colonel Garrah moved
“She will make a great military officer,” says Lieutenant Colonel Garrah, who also
to Naples in 2004 after retiring from
recalls another cadet whose life was changed by JROTC: Rebecca Dolce, a first generation the army. He was hired for the JROTC
American with family ties to Haiti. “She was 14 years old just beginning high school,
program at Golden Gate High School
didn’t know how to handle pressure and had some familial issues.” and was there for nine years before
Over the years Ms. Dolce also developed into a good leader and he selected her to
moving over to Naples High School
be the Battalion Commander when she was a senior. Later, Lieutenant Colonel Garrah where he is in his second year of
helped Ms. Dolce attain acceptance into the Naval Academy and she is now a Naval
teaching JROTC there. Lieutenant
Officer serving on a Surface Warfare Ship. Colonel Garrah was the focus of Life in
“She went with us on one of our JROTC trips to Washington and had tears in her
Naples Magazine Sandra Lee Buxton’s
eyes when she saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and understood what those sacrifices Winners Circle last month for the work
meant of all of the names on the memorial,” he says. “It is very gratifying that I was able to he does with the JROTC.
attend Rebecca’s Naval Academy graduation this past May and I am proud of what these “We have about 160 cadets in our
kids do for our community and our nation.” program and 40 percent are females
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah is quick to share credit for successes like Ms. Dolce and and our battalion commander is a
Ms. Saint Louis with his staff and parents. “It really is a team effort with Sergeant Phillips, female and doing a great job,” he says.
other adults and cadets and we have an active Booster Club of parents,” he says. “Approximately half of the cadets who
Kim Burns was the Booster Club president at Golden Gate High School when
stay in JROTC until they are seniors
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah was based there. Burns continues to help with the program at join the military after high school or
Naples High School. He is appreciative of their support. eventually join.”
“My son graduated from Golden Gate High School in 2012 and when he came to The leadership and team building
GGHS in January his freshman year, the first thing that he wanted to check out was the skills JROTC students learn, help them
JROTC program and meet the instructor,” she says. “David has always had a respect and in whatever they decide to do. Cadets
appreciation for the military and he wanted to be a part of JROTC.” can also earn ROTC or academy
Burns says before JROTC, David was a quiet kid, but being part of the cadets within scholarships.
school helped him to open up as a person. For more information, call
“I asked David what JROTC did for him and he said JROTC taught him leadership 239.377.2226 or visit www.naplesjrotc.
and life skills, allowed him opportunities to show respect and appreciation to the military,” com.
Life in Naples | January 2015 111
says Burns. “David has joined the Navy
and will leave in March for boot camp.”
As a parent, Burns feels the JROTC
program has had a positive impact on
her son.
“He has become a wonderful young
man that we love and are very proud
of,” says Burns who along with fellow
PAUL GARRAH AND REBECCA DOLCE Booster Club parents supports JROTC
cadets and instructors, providing food,
“The great thing about JROTC is there is something for everyone and we also volunteer transportation, chaperones, fundraising
at a wide variety of events and activities,” he says. and just being there to cheer on the
JROTC is brimming with success stories. Former cadet Djeunie Saint Louis is
cadets. “It doesn’t matter what school
graduating from U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ms. Saint Louis is one of
your child attends – you are proud of
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah’s former cadets from Golden Gate High School and a first
all the cadets and you cheer for all of
generation American. He is attending the graduation and is giving her the commissioning them to succeed in life.”
oath in uniform. Lieutenant Colonel Garrah moved
“She will make a great military officer,” says Lieutenant Colonel Garrah, who also
to Naples in 2004 after retiring from
recalls another cadet whose life was changed by JROTC: Rebecca Dolce, a first generation the army. He was hired for the JROTC
American with family ties to Haiti. “She was 14 years old just beginning high school,
program at Golden Gate High School
didn’t know how to handle pressure and had some familial issues.” and was there for nine years before
Over the years Ms. Dolce also developed into a good leader and he selected her to
moving over to Naples High School
be the Battalion Commander when she was a senior. Later, Lieutenant Colonel Garrah where he is in his second year of
helped Ms. Dolce attain acceptance into the Naval Academy and she is now a Naval
teaching JROTC there. Lieutenant
Officer serving on a Surface Warfare Ship. Colonel Garrah was the focus of Life in
“She went with us on one of our JROTC trips to Washington and had tears in her
Naples Magazine Sandra Lee Buxton’s
eyes when she saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and understood what those sacrifices Winners Circle last month for the work
meant of all of the names on the memorial,” he says. “It is very gratifying that I was able to he does with the JROTC.
attend Rebecca’s Naval Academy graduation this past May and I am proud of what these “We have about 160 cadets in our
kids do for our community and our nation.” program and 40 percent are females
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah is quick to share credit for successes like Ms. Dolce and and our battalion commander is a
Ms. Saint Louis with his staff and parents. “It really is a team effort with Sergeant Phillips, female and doing a great job,” he says.
other adults and cadets and we have an active Booster Club of parents,” he says. “Approximately half of the cadets who
Kim Burns was the Booster Club president at Golden Gate High School when
stay in JROTC until they are seniors
Lieutenant Colonel Garrah was based there. Burns continues to help with the program at join the military after high school or
Naples High School. He is appreciative of their support. eventually join.”
“My son graduated from Golden Gate High School in 2012 and when he came to The leadership and team building
GGHS in January his freshman year, the first thing that he wanted to check out was the skills JROTC students learn, help them
JROTC program and meet the instructor,” she says. “David has always had a respect and in whatever they decide to do. Cadets
appreciation for the military and he wanted to be a part of JROTC.” can also earn ROTC or academy
Burns says before JROTC, David was a quiet kid, but being part of the cadets within scholarships.
school helped him to open up as a person. For more information, call
“I asked David what JROTC did for him and he said JROTC taught him leadership 239.377.2226 or visit www.naplesjrotc.
and life skills, allowed him opportunities to show respect and appreciation to the military,” com.
Life in Naples | January 2015 111
