Peabody JROTC raises funds at festival; deputy commander and organizers ask community support for nationals

Members of the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Air Force JROTC used the festival platform to raise funds for nationals and to thank the community for support. Ricardo Santos, deputy commander of the JROTC unit, appeared onstage and appealed to attendees for help raising money to cover travel and competition costs.

Santos introduced himself onstage: “I am the deputy commander at the Peabody Air Force JROTC program held at the high school,” and described the unit’s ongoing efforts to reach nationals. During closing remarks, festival emcees reiterated the call for support: a presenter asked attendees to “support the JROTC program from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. They have made it to nationals for the fourth year in a row, and we need to get them there.”

Fundraising at the festival includes voluntary donations and local appeals; organizers did not specify a fundraising target onstage. The appeals were informational and solicitations for community support rather than formal city action.

Festival organizers also noted the ROTC program’s visible role in the program, including musical presentation and participation in the ceremony. No official city appropriation or vote was announced onstage; the request was limited to public fundraising and community support.