We are proud to display an award-winning essay on the namesake of our division, Hank Mooberry, and what he means for our unit through the eyes of one of our former cadets!

AMERICAN HERITAGE, PRESERVATION & PATRIOTISM ESSAY PROGRAM

LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL, 2013-14 WINNER

League PO Sachin Muralidhar

Sponsored by District 22-W

Thomas Jefferson said, “Patriotism is not a short, frenzied burst of emotion, but the long and steady dedication of a lifetime.” My favorite patriot is a perfect example of such lifelong devotion to his country. 

Lieutenant Commander (NSCC) Henry "Hank" E. Mooberry [1] served our country’s Navy during World War II. and after 30 years of military service, he dedicated his retirement years to serve our nation - by developing the youth of America. He would drive around the streets of D.C. in his car, at his own expense, pick up kids who were loitering the streets, and take them to the Navy Yard, where he would teach them about American history and engage them in physical exercises and drills. He believed that giving these kids productive ways to spend their time would help them build on the first foundation created by our Founding Fathers. So, he started the flagship division of the Navy Sea Cadets - a program that initially provided underprivileged and homeless kids a positive alternative to hanging around the streets, and slowly nurtured it into a nationwide program open to all 11-18 year-olds interested in learning about the military. 

LCDR Mooberry spent more than 30 years with the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC), until his death in 2005. He helped 5,000 kids - fondly called “Mooberry’s kids” - move on to successful military careers or outstanding civilian occupations. The program quickly spread to other parts of the country and there are 392 units, serving almost 12,000 youths today.

I am proud to be a US Naval Sea Cadet in the Mooberry Division at the Washington Navy Yard, and LCDR Mooberry inspires me to think of ways to be a lifelong patriot. Boot camp this summer, at Cape May, NJ, taught me how much hard work our Armed Forces put into keeping our country safe. I spend one weekend a month at the Navy Yard, learning about military history and doing drills. I also do monthly community service at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, accompanying veterans to Bingo and bowling games, and learning about their patriotism firsthand. I spread the word about LCDR Mooberry and the USNSCC among my friends - two of my classmates liked my story so much, they have enrolled in the Cadet program, too! I also volunteer to help my elderly neighbors by watering their plants and baking them brownies. On Veterans Day this year, I visited LCDR Mooberry’s gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery and prayed for his guidance to help me lead a life of honor and service.

Every drop makes the ocean, and my goal is to add to the wave started by LCDR Mooberry by upholding the three core values of a Naval Sea Cadet: Honor, Courage, and Commitment [2]. I am committed to living my life with the “long and steady dedication” that Thomas Jefferson spoke about, by following the example of everyday patriots whom I have the honor to meet as a Naval Sea Cadet in Mooberry’s Division.

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