Van Horn JROTC Cadets ‘Freezin’ for a Reason

Temperatures in the low 50s in late January isn’t exactly swimming weather, unless you’re 13 Van Horn JROTC cadets determined to make a difference. Van Horn’s cadets, the ‘Freezing Falcon’ team, along with several hundred others, took a dip in icy Longview Lake as part of the annual Polar Bear Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Missouri.

“It’s called the Polar Bear Plunge for a reason,” said retired Lt. Col. Mike Byrd, Van Horn’s senior army JROTC instructor.

Using a variety of fundraising ideas, the ‘Freezing Falcon’ team raised more than $1,600. “Our fundraising efforts took many forms,” Byrd said, “from coin drops to selling raffle tickets for gift cards to personal appeals to friends, family, staff and faculty.

“All of this effort to earn the privilege to jump into near-freezing Longview Lake.”

This is the second year Van Horn’s JROTC has taken part in the Polar Plunge. Byrd said his cadets participate in numerous community-wide service events, but this effort means a bit more. “I am very proud of the cadets who worked on the planning, organizing and execution of this unique fundraiser,” he said. “As the parent of a Special Olympian, I understand how much good comes from the Special Olympics experience.”

This year’s participants included Destiny Atkinson, Jamilson Collantes, Dmitrij Douty, Rosa Garay, Caleb Herrick, Shea Martinez, Alyssa Pierce, Catie Thomas, Joshua Watkins, Zeb Lityma, team leader Hayli Sweigart and two-time ‘plungers’ Travis Reiley and Jordan Winn. Special Olympics Missouri provides team sports opportunities, skills training and athletic competitions for young people and individuals with intellectual disabilities.