At the heart of Columbus, history and present service intertwined as the Fort Hayes Air Force Junior ROTC OH-871 "Red Tails" captivated attendees at the MilVets Veterans Rally. The event, set against the backdrop of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, saw the cadets performing with precision as they raised the national and state colors, leading the Pledge of Allegiance in front of veterans and community members.
Honor and duty echoed through the plaza, not just in the symbolic acts of the Color Guard but in the active participation of these young leaders. Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center's cadets didn't just march, they also set up and took down the event, provided valuable assistance to vendors and veterans alike, a testament to their commitment as future standard-bearers for the values commemorated on Veterans Day. According to their Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, SMSgt Eduard "Senior" Dedousis told Columbus City Schools, "Today was special. It was multigenerational. It was an opportunity to support MilVets’ efforts, salute to those who have served our nation through military service while also recognizing those who will take our place and are already picking up the mantle of service."
These cadets, embodying the motto "Praeterita disce, praesentia servī, futūra finge" - study the past, serve in the present and shape the future - have amassed over 2,200 hours of community service this school year alone. Their dedication to civic responsibility was even recognized nationally, as the OH-871 unit earned the Community Service Excellence Award with a Silver Star, ranking them in the top 5% of Air Force JROTC programs worldwide.
Furthermore, the tradition of the "Red Tails" is steeped in the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, whose courage the cadets seek to emulate. "Service matters to everyone," SMSgt Dedousis said in a statement obtained by CCS, "To serve others honestly is serving ourselves. It builds resilience in our communities and develops leadership, empathy, and compassion for others." This living history lesson continues to inspire the students at Fort Hayes, reminding them that service transcends generations and their actions have a lasting impact.
The Veterans Day rally may have marked another year of honoring our nation's service members, but for the Fort Hayes cadets, it was yet another day to demonstrate their adherence to Air Force core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do. Their involvement at the rally – and their continued service in the community – cements the presence of the "Red Tails" as young ambassadors of a legacy that both honors the past and actively shapes the future of service and leadership in Columbus.
