From left are Brittani Harned (Computer Service Technician and Networking , Live Oaks/Goshen), Amber Hambrick (Animal Science, Live Oaks/Milford), Katlyn McCracken (Milford), Nic Cusick (Milford), Crystal O’Brien (Milford) and Alex Smith (Milford).
Several current or former Ohio governors, a U.S. Senator, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 2,700 dignitaries gathered to watch Live Oaks JROTC cadets Amber Hambrick and Brittani Harned join members of the Ohio National Guard color guard as they presented the flag at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus.

To be fair, the crowd was there for the swearing-in ceremony of Ohio Governor John Kasich, but for several minutes all eyes were on the two cadets from the Live Oaks/Milford JROTC.

“I’m not nervous,” Hambrick said before the ceremony.

A senior from Milford in the Live Oaks animal science program and JROTC company commander, she has participated in parades, community events, and baseball games.

“Once you’ve presented the colors in front of a crowd at a Reds game, you can do anything,” shes said.

Junior Brittani Harned from Goshen, a computer service technician and networking student, was a bit less sure.

“This is my first time performing publicly with the color guard, so sure, I’m a little nervous.”

Then the audience got quiet, and the color guard crossed the stage past the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and their families, posted the American flag and Ohio flag in their stands, saluted, and marched crisply offstage.

The historical day contin-

ued with music and Governor Kasich’s first address to Ohio, but for Hambrick, Harned, and the other Live Oaks and Milford JROTC cadets who accompanied them to Columbus, the most critical part of the day went off without a hitch.