Uniform not a costume

EDITOR:

Regarding a letter dated Nov. 19 about the uniform not being a costume. I attended the Veterans Day-USO celebration and I know Florence Judd and her grandson Shawn. The comments were both a put-down to the senior center and Shawn.

As a mother of a deceased son, who was in the Army National Guard in 1986 and drowned while on weekend duty, I was hurt. Shawn is in Junior ROTC, a program for people interested in training before joining the service and getting scholarships.

Wearing his grandfather's uniform is not a costume.

I personally asked the reporter from The Record-Courier to write and put an article about Shawn. We and his grandmother Florence are very proud of Shawn and his strong interest in the military. My son Todd had the same commitment that Shawn seems to have.

You need to find out more about the Junior ROTC class. If you go visit the local high school and meet the teacher and students you'd be surprised what a positive program the school provides.

Don't be concerned about Shawn, he is a person to look up to and admire. Give both the senior center and Shawn praise for having a wonderful Veterans Day celebration.

Colene Ruggiero

Wellington