Del City honors past and future military leaders
The City of Del City recognized the Del City High School Navy JROTC and Ret. Cpt. John Keilty during a recent city council meeting. Photo by Lea Terry
By Lea Terry
Midwest City Beacon
At its February 3 city council meeting, Del City acknowledged its future military leaders and its military past with proclamations honoring the Del City High School Navy Junior ROTC and Ret. Capt. John Keilty.
The NJROTC was honored for several recent achievements, including earning the Distinguished Unit Award, which is given to the top 10 percent of programs in Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. In addition, during a recent Area Manager’s Inspection of Cadets, the unit earned outstanding overall ratings and outstanding ratings in every category.
“We’re very proud of you guys and we just absolutely love what you do and you do it so well,” said Mayor Floyd Eason. “Every time I’ve seen you guys present the colors you’ve just done an outstanding job and I just want to say thank you for representing Del City High School and the city of Del City”
The unit also presented the colors at the meeting. Del City’s NJROTC has performed the color guard, a choreographed presentation of the United States flag and military flags at ceremonies and other events, over 300 times across the state..
Ret. Capt. Keilty received the Key to the City for his 30 years of military service and for his leadership with the NJROTC. Keilty served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy, before becoming Commodore of Strategic Communications Wing ONE at Tinker Air Force Base.
Mayor Eason noted that the key to the city is one of the city’s highest honors.
“I can’t think of anybody that deserves it more than you; you are a symbol to our community and we appreciate you,” Eason said.
Keilty also received a framed picture of Robert Kalsu, a Del City High School graduate and player for the Buffalo Bills football team. Kalsu died serving in the Vietnam War, and Keilty was part of the effort to install a statue honoring Kalsu at the Del City High School stadium. Keilty said that a total of 20 Del City residents died in action in Vietnam, and that he has contacted the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation about establishing a Robert Kalsu chapter of the Military Hall of Fame in Del City. He’s also organizing a fundraising effort to install plaques honoring the other Del City residents killed in action during Vietnam, with an unveiling planned for March 29, which is Vietnam era Veterans Day.
“We built the statue over there with the hope of inspiring high school kids,” Keilty said. “This has stood for everything that’s good about America. He was one of the 20 and we need to take care of the others.”
