On December 17, 2024, the JLHS JROTC “Husky Battalion” gathered at the La Joya ISD Central Office parking lot to celebrate the completion of their Service Learning Project, which involved adding “Purple Heart Parking spaces” at various locations within the LJISD district. The Service Learning Project is an annual curriculum requirement mandated by the US Army Cadet Command as part of the JROTC Program Accreditation (JPA). All JROTC programs must undergo the Army audit every three years, with the top 10 percent earning “Honor Unit with Distinction, HUD (goldstar) status. The “Husky Battalion” currently maintains the prestigious HUD unit designation and the Purple Heart Parking space learning project that was presented at LJISD Central Office will contribute to maintaining the HUD Goldstar designation. The nine cadets from Juarez Lincoln JROTC who make up the Service Learning Team began the project at the beginning of the school year after receiving district approval to install the Purple Heart Parking spaces. According to Cadet Captains Yaretsi Rios and Marisol Sauceda, the Service Learning Team selected the Purple Heart Parking space project because they were inspired by Master Sergeant Gonzalo Melenendez, Juarez Lincoln JROTC Army instructor, after he shared the story of how he earned a Purple Heart in Afghanistan. His heroic actions peaked our interest, so we made it our mission to honor all quiet and humble heroes like him, the cadet captains said. During the ceremony, the “Husky Battalion” also honored the two Purple Heart recipients in attendance, Gonzalo Melendez and Sergeant First Class Benito Contreras, JROTC Army instructor at McAllen High School. The ceremony and the presentation of the new Purple Heart Parking spaces was a result of Husky cadets collaborating with Mr. Daniel Vela and his JLHS welding class, Mr. Mark Sierra and the Purple Heart Project, Mr. Norberto Garza, LJISD PE and health coordinator, and Mr. Roger Hernandez and his crew from Physical Plant Operations.
The Service Learning Team members include:
Cadet Captain Mirasol Sauceda
Cadet Captain Yaretsi Rios
Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Felipe Rincon
Cadet 1SG Alex Tovar
Cadet Corporal Yaritza Ruiz
Cadet Corporal Crystal Lopez
Cadet PFC Emily Iracheta
Cadet PFC Lambdad Damian
Cadet PFC Diego Valles
Cadet PFC Brandon Cavazos
