YSU ROTC alumni gather for reunion

YOUNGSTOWN -- It was a picnic for heroes.

The annual Youngstown State University ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) alumni gathering took place Saturday afternoon at the Pollock House pavilion on campus.

A 1974 YSU graduate with a major in political science and former ROTC member Dave Long, who organized the picnic, said the building previously hosted the ROTC prior to becoming a hotel (the Wick-Pollock Inn) and the president of YSU's residence.

To begin the summer reunion, guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance and gave salutes or placed their hands on their hearts during the playing of the national anthem. Then, Patrick Williams, YSU Director of Veterans Affairs, played "America the Beautiful" on saxophone.

In a brief speech, YSU President Bill Johnson, a United States Air Force veteran, said, "I am honored to be among you. I am honored to be one of you."

He discussed the country that they all served.

"This is the most free, the most prosperous, the greatest nation that the world has ever known. We are in a constant perpetual state of change. We remain today after 250 years, still a grand experiment. There are millions and millions of people all over the globe, some of them right here in our own country, who are wondering if this great experiment of self-governance, where power is in the hands of the governed, is really going to work.

"Well, I'm telling you I believe it's going to and I believe it's because we have ridden on the shoulders of great patriots like all of you."

Many of the alumni traveled from out of town and even out of state to attend the event.

Mary and Jim Forestal came to the reunion from Georgia. He retired there after his service.

Earl Washington arrived at the picnic from New Jersey, where he settled after his military retirement and he transitioned to a civilian career. Washington's ROTC classmate, Steve Motika, now lives in Perry, Ohio, on the lake, yet left the serene beauty to enjoy the company of his fellow ROTC members.

Some of the military wives accompanied their husbands to the gathering. They also served their country through the support they gave their spouses.

"I married my husband, Jim, after his graduation and he went into active duty," said Mary Forestal. "We moved every four years. It was a wonderful experience."

She met people at the picnic from all over the country who had not experienced the Mahoning Valley's ethnic food heritage.

"I introduced other Army wives to kolachi," Forestal said.

Former classmates gathered to enjoy a lunch provided by Mission BBQ.

Class of 1979 graduates Motika, formerly of Hartford, and Ralph DeLucia of Boardman, and 1980 graduate Washington, originally from Youngstown, were ROTC classmates at YSU. All three served active duty after completing college.

Washington was a Spanish major. He served an overseas deployment in Germany, but mostly stateside as part of military intelligence. His last post was Fort Dix, New Jersey. As a civilian, he worked for the Casino Control Commission and lives near Fort Dix.

Motika deployed to South Korea for two years and was a battalion commander. His civilian career included 25 years in higher education at Cuyahoga Community College and the University of Akron, where he was the Associate Dean of Applied Science and Technology.

DeLucia received associate and bachelor degrees in business administration. He served nearly two years in South Korea, but not in the same area as his friend. He also had temporary duty in Panama. Stateside, he served and commanded the infantry. For 16 years, he managed the Austintown Body Shop gym.

Attendees ranged from 1969 graduate Jim Fairbanks of Hubbard, who served a year in Vietnam, to one of the youngest former ROTC graduates, Ryan Kelley, a Liberty native who now lives in Canton, who completed his studies at YSU in 2007. He also served in a war after graduation when he was sent to Afghanistan.

Some members of the group found a military career by chance.

"I saw ROTC members rappelling down Stambaugh Stadium and I told the instructor 'I want to do that'," said Mac Crum, who graduated in the late 1990s.

He added, "I loved it. The instructor said, 'Come to our Winter Survival Course. It will count for a physical education credit.' I thought that was better than volleyball that I had signed up for and then I thought I needed a history credit. So, I took military history."

In January 2025, Crum retired from the United States Army after serving 28 years.

Presently, YSU has 50 ROTC cadets who will graduate and become part of the brotherhood of the ROTC Alumni and can then attend the annual picnic after completing their required service.