Student receives Legion of Valor award at South Aiken ceremony

When Cody Wilkins enrolled at South Aiken High School as a freshman in 2007, he decided to join the Naval Junior ROTC unit out of interest in its orienteering program.

"Really, it was just another class," he said.

Actually, ROTC turned out to be anything but another class. At the school's Veterans Day program Thursday, commanding officer Wilkins became the latest South Aiken cadet to win the national Legion of Valor Bronze Cross Award.

"I was very surprised and didn't know I would get this award," he said. "It means a lot, and I'll always remember it. I feel pride in this uniform and a sense of community in my unit and school."

Just 19 high school NJROTC cadets are receiving the Legion of Valor recognition this year, along with 24 in other service units and 20 more from the college ranks.

Students are selected based on academic and military excellence by recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross.

"A positive, enthusiastic culture is very important to us, and Cody sets that kind of example," said unit Commander Larry Laughlin. "Cody is trustworthy, teachable, very hard-working, and he likes to have fun at the same time. I am really proud of him."

Marine Corps Col. Myron Harrington (ret.) presented the award to Wilkins as his parents, Jerry and Brenda Wilkins, looked on. Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh, an Air Force veteran, read a proclamation in honor of Wilkins' achievement.

The guest speaker was Jeff Wallace, a Navy veteran who recently retired as editor of the Aiken Standard. He spoke movingly of Chuck Parks, his longtime friend at Aiken High who lost his life while serving as a corpsman in Vietnam. Parks' name can be found at the Aiken County Veterans Memorial Park on Richland Avenue.

"Go there some day and read the names of all those from our county who have given their lives in times of war to protect this nation," said Wallace. "Each one of those names represents a real person whose dreams were not realized, whose future was cut short. Each name represents a family that mourned for a son cut off at an early age."

Music was furnished by the South Aiken band and chorus programs. Student body president Phoebe Taylor served as emcee.

Watching Wilkins receive his award were his grandfathers, Willie Vonnette and Herbert Wilkins. Army veteran Vonnette, an 83-year-old Williston resident, served overseas during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

"He's something else, a joy," Vonnette said of his grandson. "I just keep telling him he needs to go into the Army instead of the Navy."

Wilkins smiled at that, but he's not changing his mind. He hopes to get a Navy ROTC scholarship and attend Auburn or the University of South Carolina.

His parents appreciate how Wilkins enjoys the military regimen and camaraderie within his unit.

"It's like a big family," Jerry Wilkins said. "Cody has decided he wants to do the full career. We never anticipated this, but he just loves it."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.