2012 Fort Lee HS Graduation

Graduation2012The Fort Lee Community

Celebrates the Achievementsof its High School Seniors

www.fortleetraveller.com2 • TRAVELLER GRADUATION EDITION • June 21, 2012

by T. Anthony BellSenior Writer/Special Projects

Sgt. 1st Class Keisha Williams has seen her share of struggles as the parent of a teenage son going through high school.

“He had us a little worried at one point, but he pulled it off so we are so happy,” said the Soldier assigned to the 49th Quartermaster Group’s 16th QM Company, 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

Williams, one of many Fort Lee parents in attendance at the Prince George High School grad-uation ceremony June 9, said her son, De’Quan Maurice Williams, overcame academic challenges and some common adolescent is-sues to graduate. He was one of the 404 students who received diplomas during the 59th Annual Commencement Exercises at the football stadium.

Prince George, roughly a 10-minute ride from Fort Lee, is the designated pub-lic high school for post residents.

Williams, a mother of two, said the challenges that beset her son were com-pounded by her deployment during his ju-nior year. She said the high level of matu-rity he showed while she was away would please any parent.

“To be here and see him graduate,” she said, “and to know that he continued on when I wasn’t around, I’m just so proud of him.”

De’Quan, bear hugging his little sister while his mom beamed over his diploma after the ceremony, seemed to be in a state of blissful reflection. His toothy smile was the clearest indication that he was happy he prevailed.

“I feel like I’m free,” he said. “I’m glad.”

Now De’Quan, a member of the PG Royals football team, said the next stage in life will take him to the West Coast where he will attend college.

“I’m going to continue to play sports,

One Last, Proud StrollArea High School Students Take Steps Toward Adulthood During Commencement Exercises

Prince George High School students take one final stroll around the football stadium track after receiving their diplomas June 9 at the 59th Commencement Exercises.

PHOTO BY T. ANTHONY BELL

continue to learn and, hopefully, be suc-cessful in life,” he said.

Williams’ aspirations were right in line with the remarks class president Carrie Elizabeth Young made during her address to the hundreds of family, friends and sup-porters who braved rising temperatures under sunny skies to attend the event. She encouraged her fellow students to continue on a path of growth.

“I challenge you all to take opportuni-ties throughout your life that you think will better yourself in the long run,” she said. “Yes, some may be easy and some may be difficult, but taking opportunities is what helps you grow as a person.”

Lt. Col. Boris Hall, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combined Arms Support Command, said he understands opportunity. His daughter, Chelsea Adams Hall, created many for her-self along the way to earn her diploma, he said. She was a member of the Beta Club and National Technology Honor Society and plans to attend college in Florida.

“I feel great,” he said as the students walked around the stadium track, waving

to audience members. “It’s a great accom-plishment. I feel like it is well-deserved because she did what she needed to do.”

Hall added that Chelsea’s diploma is a testament to her experiences as a military Family member.

“It shows that she can seek out opportu-nities and adapt to wherever she goes to be successful,” he said.

Retired Staff Sgt. Raul Palomo had sim-ilar sentiments. His son, Brian Palomo, not only endured the rigors of military life but went on to excel academically, skipping a grade to graduate early.

“I’m really proud of him,” dad said af-ter the ceremony, surrounded by Family members, “especially considering every-thing that he’s gone through – me being deployed – and how he took care of his own business.”

Brian attended four other schools while his dad was in the military, in-cluding one in Germany. He said it was tough but the experiences gave him the strength to withstand most situations. “Sometimes it was difficult because he’d be gone for extended periods of time,” he

said, “but we fought through; I would be the man of the house at times, and it all worked out for the best.”

Brian said he will be “taking his talents” to George Mason University in the fall.

Like Brian, fellow graduate J’Mani Townsend has lived the life of military Family members, moving with his Family every two years or so and making vari-ous adjustments along the way.

He said he didn’t contem-plate the weight of his accom-plishment until he stood in line just below the graduation stage, ready to walk up to receive his diploma.

“I wasn’t as excited as I thought I would be,” he said after the ceremony, “but right before I got up to the ramp, my heart started beating real fast, and when they called my name, I was ready, just happy.”

His mom, Michelle Townsend, a Kenner Army Health Clinic employee, said the diploma her son received is more than an academic achievement. It is the culmina-tion of everything her husband, Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Rico Williams, and their Family have endured in the military.

“To know that he made it, that he got through 12 years through all the moves and all the adjustments, he did it,” she said. “Now he can move on to bigger and better things. He’s an adult now. I’m just looking forward to his having a produc-tive life and doing some good things.”

J’Mani plans to intern at a dance studio this summer and attend community col-lege in the fall.

PGHS is the only high school in the county and has an enrollment of rough-ly 1,300 students. More than 300 of its pupils have at least one parent who is as-signed to Fort Lee and other area military facilities. Many more PGHS students have parents who are military retirees, post government employees or govern-ment contractors.

www.fortleetraveller.com June 21, 2012 • TRAVELLER GRADUATION EDITION • 3


Military life can be rewarding and enriching but also un-predictable and heartbreaking.

That reality is starkly clear to Britney Miller, a 2012 grad-uate of Thomas Dale High School in Chester. Her father, 1st Sgt. Sean Miller, is currently serving in South Korea. Britney – along with her mother Aida and sister Alyssa – have lived at Fort Stewart, Ga., Baumholder, Germany; Fort Carson, Colo.; and Fort Lee in support of the first sergeant’s career. She said moving around and adapting to new environments have molded her into who she is today – someone who is well-adjusted, mature and upbeat.

“Every time we moved somewhere,” she said, “I felt like it made us stronger. I had more opportunities and I experi-enced more things than the average kid. I feel like I have an advantage.”

Those “advantages” came as a result of sacrifice; the re-sponsibilities she had to shoulder because she was the oldest.

“With my mom working and me having a younger sister and my dad PCSing, I had to be like the mom watching over my sister,” Britney recalled. “I learned how to cook in the fourth grade, to do my own clothes and do the chores –way more responsibilities than the average kid my age would have. I kind of look at other kids and say ‘Wow! You don’t know how to do that? I learned how to do that in elementary school.’’’

Above all else, Britney is considerate. She seems to un-derstand the sacrifices that military members make on a daily basis and the sacrifices she must make as a Family member. Take note of her comments with regard to changing address-es from time to time:

“I took a positive approach to moves because I didn’t want to be moving to new places and be sad,” she said. “I didn’t want to put a burden on my dad because that was his job, to help us to live a better life.”

From most perspectives, Britney is an ideal military Family member – resilient, adaptable and supportive. On the flip side, she is a young woman who misses her dad; who has given up times fishing, having lunch and spending date night with him. One could understand then, having given up so much, how she could expect her father to be present for one of the most important occasions – her high school gradu-ation.

Military life can be heartbreaking.“Sean was supposed to be back from South Korea in

May of this year in time for (Britney’s) graduation,” said her mother. “He’s been held over for two months now, still stuck in South Korea and no orders to come back. Britney just walked across and received her diploma (June 6), and her dad was not here.”

Aida Miller is an old hand at weathering such occasions. She said she deals with it in a private way, releasing her emo-tions, picking herself up and keeping an eye on the big pic-ture.

“I have my moments,” she said. “I sit in my room and weep sometimes, but I have to be strong because I have to keep the Family going … he’s out there doing something for our country so that we can enjoy the things that so many people take for granted.”

Like her mother, Britney carried on like a trooper, reason-ing that it wasn’t her father’s fault and that it was something he couldn’t control. She eventually became more emotional.

“I didn’t want to be upset, but I know it wasn’t my dad’s decision,” she said. “He wanted to be there for me. I tried to stay strong so that he can stay strong. The day before gradu-ation was the first day that I actually cried because I was thinking to myself, ‘You know, I do wish my dad was here.’”

The thought of her dad not being present at her graduation is still painful for Britney.

“It’s making me sad now thinking about it,” she said, wip-ing her eyes. “I don’t usually tear up, but this was the mo-ment that I did want him to be there because he’s waited 18 years to see this.”

The moments or occasions that can’t be made up, no mat-ter the quality of the DVD, are numerous – births and birth-days, anniversaries and first kisses, dance recitals and first football games, and proms and graduations – to name a few. Aida. Miller said there are less important matters also that can impact Family members just the same.

“Little things like meetings at school when mom and dad are not there,” she said. “That’s a lot for a child to take -- when they have an absent parent and they see other children who have both parents there. It’s small things like that that some take for granted.”

The Miller Family is still reeling from the graduation, but it isn’t one to dwell on adversity, said Aida Miller. Britney noted that the next big event in her life – attending college at Old Dominion University later this summer – can act as a time-and-distance remedy for the dad-less graduation cer-emony. She’s ready to move on.

“I am very excited,” she said with a dreamy look. “I am kind of used to adapting to new things and moving, so the only difference with this move is that it’s going to be on my own. I’m not going to have my family with me going through every single step and decision that I make. I’m excited to start moving and figure things on my own.”

Britney and Aida MillerPHOTO BY T. ANTHONY BELL

Where Enrichment Meets HeartbreakLife as a Military Family Member Can be an Unpredictable Mix of Reward, Disappointment

June 21, 2012 • TRAVELLER GRADUATION EDITION • 54 • TRAVELLER GRADUATION EDITION • June 21, 2012

Jessica ArentzSgt. 1st Class Dennis and Carrie FitzpatrickPrince George High School

Tre’von Anthony BurnsRet. Maj. Sam and post em-ployee Nancy BurnsThomas Dale High School

Ashley Taylor ColemanWayne W. and post em-ployee Andrea T. ColemanPrince George High School

Darius GibsonCW4 Derwin and Fort Lee employee Michelle GibsonPrince George High School

Chelsea A. HallLt. Col. Boris and DLA employ-ee Yolonda D. Adams-HallPrince George High School

Raymond Arnold Jr.Ret. Sgt. Maj. Raymond and post employee Brenda ArnoldPrince George High School

Miles BennettPost employee June ShannonHopewell High School

Brittany Alexandra BushCorey and post employ-ee Alexenia Baker and James Veale (father)Matoaca High School

Carlos E. Collins Ret. Maj. Lawrence E. Collins and Linda Mata-Collins Prince George High School

Darius Terez DawseySgt. 1st Class Curbic and Veronica DawseyPrince George High School

Darian DixonRet. Sgt. 1st Class Randy and post employee Sandra DixonL.C. Bird High School

Braxton Evans Ret. 1st Sgt. Leroy D. and post employee Kimberly EvansPrince George High School

Ricky Gaines Jr.Sgt. Maj. Ricky Sr. andDLA employee Alberta GainesPrince George High School

Nedrah DeShawn Gray Master Sgts. Dexter and Lynn Gray Thomas Dale High School

James R. Griffin IIIPost employee James and DLA employee Clara GriffinPrince George High School

Natianna MelvinStaff Sgt. Anthony and post employee Stephanie MelvinPrince George High School

Kayla Ma’kel HubertMarine Capt. T.D. and Michelle Hubert Prince George High School

Tierra KindredDoD employee James Kindred and Sgt. 1st Class Nisha Dowdell Thomas Dale High School

Daniel Lauretano IIRet. Lt. Col. Daniel and Luz Maria LauretanoThomas Dale High School

Julian A. Harris, Staff Sgt. Timothy C. and post employee Naomi Harris-Parker Prince George High School

Andy Huynh Post employee Minh and Julie HuynhAtlee High School

Christina HydenWO1 Ralph and Spc. Tammy HydenPrince George High School

Lauren A. JacksonPost employee Lisa Jacobs and Marshall JacksonColonial Heights High School

Jamar JohnsonRet. Sgt. Maj. Dennis and Sophie JohnsonPrince George High School

Joshua T. KentRet. Sgt. 1st Class E. Doug Kent and Lt. Col. Deborah KentPrince George High School

Christopher KobeltSgt. 1st Class Richard and Angela KobeltPrince George High School

Anre L. MabryRet. Sgt. 1st Class Henry and post employee Deborah MabryMatoaca High School

Britney MillerMaster Sgt. Sean and Aida MillerThomas Dale High School

Brian PalomoRet. Staff Sgt. Raul and Klara PalomoPrince George High School

Joseph M. PervallPost employee Charles L. and Debbra A. PervallPrince George High School


Whitney Paige PulliamFort Knox, Ky. employee David and post employee Sherita PulliamThomas Dale High School

Mary-Kathryn Colleen RaulstonJ.D. and post employee Anita GivensCentral High School

Crystal M. ReynoldsSgt. Maj. David and Tammy Reynolds Prince George High School

Fatin RhoneSgt. 1st Class Steven Rhone and Maxine WhiteheadPrince George High School

Saiquon Sakil Sgts. 1st Class William H. and Doretha Y. SommervilleDinwiddie High School

Elizabeth V. SwindellRon and post employee Karen SwindellThomas Dale High School

J’Mani TownsendMaster Gunnery Sgt. Rico Williams and Michelle TownsendPrince George High School

Victoria Elizabeth Trelfordpost employee Murray B. TrelfordMatoaca High School

Zhane’ UmpierreRet. 1st Sgt. H.J. Peterson (stepfather) and C.A. Velazquez and Staff Sgt. R.L. Umpierre (father)

Tyler Isaias VargasCWO4 Isaias C. and Kimberly VargasThomas Dale High School

Mi’Keyshia Kier WestCWO3 Michael P. andDebra S. WestPrince George High School

Jessica C. Whittington Govt. employee Harold and Diahann Whittington, Prince George High School

Joseph J. WilliamsCapt. Joseph and Alicia WilliamsPrince George High School

Johnathan SprucebankRet. Master Sgt. Timothy and post employee Nathasha SprucebankDinwiddie High School

Rachel WargofcakCharles (Butch) and post em-ployee Frances WargofcakMatoaca High School

www.fortleetraveller.com June 21, 2012 • TRAVELLER GRADUATION EDITION • 7


All across America, high school graduates are making decisions about the career paths they hope will yield some desirable result. Many will opt for college, some will attend vocational school and a select few will join the military. What follows are the stories of three Fort Lee-affiliated high school graduates who have opted for the latter.Johnathan SprucebankDinwiddie High School

Johnathan didn’t have the military in his cross-hairs.

“I thought I was going to college for foot-ball,” said the former wide receiver who had already secured a scholarship offer. “I broke my collarbone. Then I was out of the picture. The military was what I had to fall back on.”

Johnathan fell upon the Marines and is now in the delayed entry program. His choice of service was based on the Corps’ reputation for distinction.

“You just know a Marine when you see one,” he said.Retired Army Master Sgt. Timothy Sprucebank said he is

not concerned with branch specifics as long as it’s the right fit for his son.

“I thought as long as he was joining the service – any branch of the service was fine,” he said. “He has an older brother in the Navy, and he’s stationed on the Abraham Lincoln. As long as he is fulfilling one of his dreams, even though it wasn’t his primary, and doing a service to his country, the branch is im-material to me.”

Johnathan said his decision to join was a bit abrupt, and he wishes he had talked it over with his parents prior to making up his mind.

“I didn’t really talk about it,” he recalled. “I should have. I should have involved them more, but I kind of shot a straight bullet and said I’m doing this. That was it.”

His father said he tried to steer him toward making a more informed decision:

“Because of the technical experience that’s offered, I tried to encourage him to consider the Air Force,” he said. “I always wanted him to consider all branches of the service.”

But Timothy has made it his policy not to use a heavy-hand-ed approach to helping his son make a decision about military service.

“I only make recommendations because it’s his future,” he said. “I don’t want to try to coerce him into doing something based off of my opinion and beliefs because if it doesn’t work out for him, then he could always fall back and say it was what I wanted to do. It’s what he wanted. His mother and I gave our opinion.”

His mother, Nathasha, a veteran as well, is glad Johnathan made the decision to join the Corps and simply wants him to have some measure of well-being.

“I thought that this was a good way for him to enter the world,” she said. “I think all young men and women – espe-

cially men – should enter the service the first few years of be-ing on their own. It’s good training. It teaches them to be an individual, a good man.”

Johnathan is scheduled to ship out in December. Kesha HayesThomas Dale High School

Kesha lost her stepfather, Army Master Sgt. Frank T. Nolan, earlier this year. They had a close relationship.

“We talked all the time,” she recalled. “He was basically the father I didn’t have for the first few years of my life because my father wasn’t there. He took that role, and it never seemed any dif-ferent to me.”

Before Nolan died, Kesha said they talked frequently about her career plans. She said she has ar-tistic talents and wanted to study illustration and graphic de-sign. College was her first choice, but she learned artists don’t make much right out of school. She talked to Nolan about the Air Force, and he agreed it was a good place to start.

“He thought I should go into the Air Force because I’m not built for the Army,” she said. “I can’t do Army stuff because they are more physical. He said I’m more of an Air Force per-son because I’m technical.”

Kesha said Nolan’s death it threw her career plans out of whack.

“I was skeptical about joining after he died,” she said. “I was like, I’m not going to go now. I’ll wait a bit because my mom needed me.”

Kesha said she is very attached to her mom, Bernadette Nolan, and used the phrase “joined at the hip” to describe their close relationship. Nolan, however, did want Kesha to change her career plans.

“She said, ‘Nope, you’re leaving. You’re not staying,’” re-

called Kesha. “‘You go and do what you need to do because you’re not going to stay here and linger around because A) I’m not going to want to leave and B) I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m not going out liv-ing my life and putting it on hold for her.’ She didn’t want that.”

Kesha put herself back on track to join up. She leaves next month for basic training and is full of anxiety.

“I’m really nervous, especially about ba-sic,” she said. “If I could skip over it, I defi-nitely would. I’m not used to having someone yelling in my face.”

Still, the prospect of being on her own in-trigues her.

“I will have the opportunity to travel the world, experience new things that a lot of kids my age don’t get the chance to do, and I’ll get paid while doing it.”Fatin RhonePrince George High School

Fatin grew up around the military. He was born on a military installation, declared he was going to be a Soldier back in the 9th grade and his father, Sgt. 1st Class Steven Rhone, is still serving after 21 years of service. So it came to no one’s surprise when Fatin broke the news that he was joining the Army. His reason was simple:

“If I go in the military, it will pay for my schooling instead of me paying for it,” he said. “It works itself out.”

Fatin is definitely thinking about his education and his qualify of life in general. So is his father, who said the benefits in the military are bet-ter now than when he first joined and more receptive to the needs of Families.

“Back when I first came in, they didn’t cater that much to fam-ily,” said the Active Guard/Reserve Soldier. “The saying was ‘if they wanted you to have a family, they would have issued you one.’ That’s changed, and there are a lot of opportunities for him because not only will he be able to work on one career, but also when he goes to college, he’ll be working on another career if he chooses to do so.”

Fatin is not sure what job he wants to pursue but is inter-ested in the engineer career field. That’s where the military can really help, said his father, allowing him to support himself while charting his career course.

“Right now, I don’t think he’s sure about exactly what he wants to do,” he said, “but at least he’ll have something going on until he figures it out.”

In consideration of the various threats ongoing around the world, Fatin said he is aware that he may have to deploy and didn’t make a rash decision. He said he’s ready for whatever comes his way.

“If it happens, it happens,” he said. “I’ll do what I have to do.”

Johnathan, Nathasha and retired Master Sgt. Timothy Sprucebank. PHOTO BY T. ANTHONY BELL

Kesha Hayes Fatin Rhone

Graduates Find Military Service Viable Option


Ricky Gaines Jr. celebrates after receiv-ing his diploma during Prince George High School’s 59th Commencement Exercises June 9 at the school football sta-dium. Gaines is the son of Sgt. Maj. Ricky and Alberta Gaines

PHOTOS BY T. ANTHONY BELL

Pride,

(LEFT) Sgt. 1st Class Keisha Williams studies the diploma of her son, De’Quan Williams, as he bear-hugs his sister, Janiya, after the Prince George High School Commencement Exercise June 9. (ABOVE) Students celebrate by tossing their mortarboards in the air after switching their tassels.

... are probably the most ac-curate words that describe the atmosphere at the Prince George High School commence-ment exercise June 9 at the school’s football stadium. The crowd, estimated to be several hundred, cheered, whistled and hollered as student names were called during the di-ploma presentations. Afterward, students wearing wide grins united with family and friends, exchanging hugs, kisses and expressions of pride that closed one chapter of their lives and ushered in another.

Elation

Documents

2012 Fort Lee HS Graduation