RPB High celebrates Veterans Day

ROYAL PALM BEACH - Royal Palm Beach High School celebrated Veterans Day with a musical and dance salute with former student and current National Guardsman Jarred Sotolongo speaking. Sotolongo, a veteran himself, will soon be deployed to Iraq for the second time.

"It's not just about soldiers now. Veterans Day is about all the soldiers [through American history]. Without them we wouldn't be here today," he told the audience.

The 23-year-old Wellington resident presented a memorial wreath and said he was honored to be at the school.

Program director Michele Blecher was teary-eyed and choked up at the end of the ceremony. Her son is serving in Iraq.

"My heart is heavy with pride and sadness," she said. "[My son] is serving his country with honor."

Blecher said that when her son was 3 years old, he told her he wanted to grow up to be an engineer and serve in the Army.

"And that's what he is," she said. "He's living his dream."

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About This Blog

Jason Parsley
Jason Parsley has covered Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and the surrounding areas since January 2008. Before that he covered East and West Boca.

He lives in Lake Worth with his partner of 8 years along with Juno, his cat, and Cutie, his Iguana.

He graduated from Florida Atlantic University where he worked for the student newspaper and won several state, regional, national, and professional journalism awards.

When he's not working, you can find him watching American Idol and Big Brother.

Contact him at jeparsley@tribune.com or 561-706-6646.