Cadet Ensign Joseph Saporita, a Southold High School junior, was honored today with a letter of commendation from U.S. Navy Rear Admiral S.C. Evans for his bravery in saving 16 fellow passengers in a bus accident on the L.I. Expresway Sept. 20. The bus was on its way to NYC when its brakes failed, which caused it to careen into the median and catch fire.
“With smoke billowing from the undercarriage and just prior to it becoming engulfed in flames, Cadet Saporita kicked out the emergency window and helped his fellow passengers exit the vehicle and move to safety, displaying a heroic disregard for his own safety,” the citation read. “His actions exemplified a level of courage and professionalism seldom seen in a high school student.”
Commander Jimmie Miller, NJROTC Area Four Manager, who conducted inspection and review ceremonies today at Southold High School, presented Saporita with the commendation — a surprise for the cadet — during this afternoon’s ceremonies.
Southold Mattituck Greenport NJROTC cadets strutted their stuff during the inspection and review ceremonies before a packed house in the Southold Junior-Senior High School gymnasium this afternoon.
The much-heralded program — honored last year as the number two NJROTC unit in the world — has grown to 320 cadets, even as enrollments in the three North Fork high school have slipped.
Maj. William Grigonis, now in his 15th year as director of the NJROTC program for the North Fork schools, speaks about the program and his cadets with obvious pride.
“They are fine young men and women and are growing up to be exemplary citizens,” Grigonis said as he watched them line up for inspection this morning, prior to the commencement of ceremonies this afternoon.
Dignitaries attendance for the ceremonies today were State Senator Ken LaValle, State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, County Legislator Al Krupski, Supervisor Scott Russell, Councilman Bill Ruland and Councilman Jim Dinizio.
Krupski, whose three children were all in the NJROTC program, was there with his youngest daughter, Kim, age 22, who was named N.Y. State American Legion Cadet of the Year in 2011.
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti
