Joseph Saporita

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Everyone knows a hero whether they realize it or not. Big or small, young or old, people walk among our society who have done courageous acts for the wellbeing of others. Our NJROTC unit here at Southold encourages cadets to serve their community in a number of ways, as well as representing the Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Every once and awhile a cadet will go above and beyond the call of duty to uphold these principles and act in times of need. Cadets like Ensign Joseph Saporita come few and far between as he was recognized for his bravery at the December 11th Annual Inspection here at Southold. Saporita was honored for his actions during a bus accident on a family trip to New York City on September 20th, in which he saved 16 of his fellow passengers some as young as 11 years old, who were traveling on the LI expressway. The bus was on its way to NYC when suddenly the brakes failed and was sent careening into the …show more content…

Navy Rear Admiral S.C. Evans. Saporita was presented this letter by Commander Jimmie Miller, NJROTC Area Four Manager who was conducting the inspection and review of the unit. The ceremony concluded with Saporita being presented the units highest honor, the Cadet Meritorious Achievement Award. Earned by saving another person's life, it's only the third time in the units 41- year history that a cadet has received this award. Ensign Saporita can now display this ribbon with pride and attributes his bold actions to some of the experiences he has had in NJROTC. His time spent at the Leadership Academy in Newport, R.I. helped prepare him to make high pressure, split-second decisions. Learning about what to do in crisis situations and training in first aid within the NJROTC curriculum also played a major role in Saporitas

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