Military Ball honors alumni, provides social atmosphere

Flowing formals and meticulous uniforms accented one another at this year's annual Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Military Ball Saturday.
The ball took place at the Mount Pleasant Country Club, 3502 E. River Road, with approximately 140 people in attendance.
The Military Ball is a formal event that gives cadets, cadre, alumni and other guests a chance to socialize together.
CMU alumni Col. Phillip Serrin II, a 1957 graduate, and Lt. Col. Kenneth Scott, a 1960 graduate, were inducted into the CMU ROTC Hall of Fame.
Scott, who resides in Alabama, was not able to attend and his plaque was received by his daughter, Laura Hamacher of Jenison.
Hamacher said her father's dedication to the Army was "immeasurable" as well as his dedication to his family.
"Central is close to his heart and so is the military. It is kind of like the icing on the cake after retiring," Hamacher said. "It makes it complete."
Serrin, also inducted Saturday night, said being inducted into the hall of fame is a great honor that he will treasure.
"I owe most everything I have to the ROTC program," Serrin said.
"It is just very rewarding for me, one, to come back and be recognized and two, to see that the ROTC program is still a viable program here at Central," he said.
"It went really well. We had a lot of alumni here so it was pretty neat to get to interact with all of the former CMU graduates," said Sarah Sutherland, New Haven senior.
Sutherland was one of the five military honor society Mu Sigma inductees. The other four were Kenton Barber, Harbor Springs sophomore; Adam Prosser, Buchanan junior; Aaron Radlinski, Bay City junior; and Ryan Veneburg, Zeeland sophomore.
Lt. Col. Chuck Minyard said he was very pleased with the ball.
"A (former) student said this was the best one he has seen," Minyard said. "We are excited it went really well."
Minyard said he is very proud of the cadets that were inducted into Mu Sigma.
"We believe that cadets are students first and it is very important that we recognize their academic achievements."
Jeff Rosenberg, cadet battalion commander and Rochester Hills senior, said he thought the speeches made by Hamacher and Serrin were great.
"It is good we can remember our past and I hope we can continue to do it well," Rosenberg said.
Phillip Morris, Lake City freshman, said the ball was a lot of fun and he enjoys being involved with the ROTC because it is like an extended family.
"Everyone gets along really well - you're always surrounded by friends," he said.
The evening commenced with music and dancing.