Peabody JROTC dives into pool for senior’s rehab

PEABODY — The Veterans Memorial High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps built an above-ground pool as a service project to help a senior in need on June 29.

The school’s Air Force JROTC, which is not a military recruiting program, built the pool for local seniors Paul and Jennifer Tremblay. The pool will be used for aquatic therapy to help Jennifer Tremblay build up strength in her back, and Paul Tremblay said it has already helped her move in and out of her wheelchair.

“It was really just luck that we were able to find some help in our time of need,” he said. “They all worked together and got it done in no time… We are grateful for the help.”

Veterans Memorial aerospace science instructor Chris Lanning said the Air Force JROTC had more than 106 students in the program last school year and averaged 20 hours of community service per cadet each week. The program consists of 15% of the school’s student population and its cadets combined for more than 2,000 hours of community service last school year.

Air Force JROTC senior and Director of Staff James Teauge, senior and Unit Commander Maddie Cefalo, junior and Mission Support Commander Mia Riley Norton, sophomore and Community Service Officer Maria De Souza, and sophomore and Logistics Officer Ambrose Teague built the pool with Lanning.

James Teauge said the most satisfying part of the day was seeing Paul Tremblay’s smile when he saw the finished project.

“He was really grateful to us,” he said. “That was really rewarding and refreshing.”

Cefalo, who is also the Air Force JROTC’s drill captain and co-captain of the girls Raiders team, said the Air Force JROTC teaches students leadership, teamwork, and life skills.

She said the most rewarding part of the project was bringing happiness to Paul and Jennifer Tremblay.

“We’re just kids with no experience and we got to do something for someone who can’t,” Cefalo said.

Riley Norton, who is also the Air Force JROTC’s marksmanship captain and co-captain of the girls Raiders team, said the group learned teamwork and gained new building skills during the project.

“People have weaknesses,” she said. “So if you put all people’s skills together as a team, it makes the job be done.”

De Souza said she learned it takes a team to finish projects.

“It’s good to have people there to help you,” she said.

Ambrose Teague also said that the project helped build the group’s teamwork skills.

He said being able to see the pool in a space that had been empty was the most rewarding part.

“It felt good getting something done for somebody else who couldn’t get it done themselves,” Ambrose Teague said.

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