Ayer Veterans Day program features stole ceremony for four Marines

Four Ayer Shirley High School seniors, class of 2023, received U.S. Marine Corps. stoles during a recent Veterans Day event at the school. Although already enlisted, they are still students as well and will complete the school year before leaving for basic training. The stoles were presented by USMC Staff Sgt. Marquise Smith, a Marine recruiter based in Nashua, N.H.(far right, in uniform) and Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Gauntlett, ASRHS Class of 2021 (first on left, in uniform.) Last on the right, ASRHS science teacher Steve Tulli, who coordinated the event and is co-advisor to the school’s Leadership Education Program, sponsored in partnership with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. The four new student Marines are John Iannacone, Keith Tomao, Sophia Brown and Aline Soares. (M.E. JONES/NASHOBA VALLEY VOICE)

PUBLISHED: November 11, 2022 at 4:00 a.m. | UPDATED: November 11, 2022 at 4:00 a.m.

AYER – During the 24th annual Veterans Day program at Ayer Shirley Regional High School last week, four seniors, members of the class of 2023, were presented with military “stoles,” cross-body banners bearing the insignia of the branch of service they’ve chosen to join: The U.S. Marine Corps.

USMC Staff Sgt. Marquise Smith, of the Marines’ Nashua, New Hampshire, recruiting sub-station, presented the stoles to Keith Tomao, Sophia Brown, John Iannacone and Aline Soares. Smith was assisted by Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Gauntlett, ASRHS Class of 2021.

Although they’ve enlisted, these Marine recruits are still high students as well. And they won’t leave for basic training yet. They will complete their final high school year first, as Gauntlett did last year.

They all participate in the ASRHS/Massachusetts Army National Guard Leadership Education Program, established 24 years ago at the former Ayer High School and headed by co-advisors Steve Tulli and Michael McLaughlin.

Tulli, who teaches science and engineering at the school, congratulated the four students.

“The Marines teaches the value of physical and mental strength,” Tulli said. “It’s a challenge (they) have accepted…” Benefits they get in return include college and enhanced career choices, he said.