On June 14, the Rhode Island Chapter held its final General Membership Meeting of the 2017–2018 Operational Year. The main purpose of the event was to award the Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Mancini and Command Sgt. Maj. Leonard Maglione Memorial Scholarships to very deserving students.

The evening began with a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a presentation of the Memorial Wreath by two Gold Star Parents, retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Mancini and retired Staff Sgt. Richard August, and a moment of silence. After an invocation by August, chapter president Bob Galvanin welcomed all the guests and invited them to enjoy dinner.

After dinner, Galvanin informed the audience about AUSA’s mission and invited those not yet members to take an application and join. The scholarships were then awarded.

Galvanin read the accomplishments of each of the chapter awardees before presenting them with their $1,000 awards.

Jacob Moulson was awarded the Mancini Scholarship, and Elizabeth Kenney was awarded the Maglione Scholarship.

As part of its Annual Scholarship Awards Night, the Rhode Island Chapter held a 243rd Army Birthday celebration.

To commemorate this historic day all scholarship awardees were invited to come up and cut the Army birthday cake with a military saber provided by AUSA’s Rhode Island State President, retired Lt. Col. Dennis Morgan.

After a benediction by August, Galvanin closed the event by wishing each of the awardees good luck in their college careers and thanking everyone for helping to make the evening so successful.

ROTC/JROTC awards

At events put on by the various college and high school ROTC and JROTC commands throughout the state, the Rhode Island Chapter presented awards to deserving ROTC and JROTC cadets as determined by the cadre from the respective commands.

Awardees from Providence College and the University of Rhode Island ROTC Battalions, as well as the Cranston East, Hope, and Rogers High School JROTC Commands were recognized for their academic and leadership excellence.

Besides the AUSA medals, certificates, and military history books awarded some honorees were given an AUSA shadow box or plaque manufactured by retired Staff Sgt. Luis Sousa.

Sousa, retired 1st Sgt. Richard Enos, retired Lt. Col. Edward Glod, and retired Col. John Ricottilli, all members of the Rhode Island Chapter, offered their time to make the presentations at the various awards day ceremonies.

For more information about the Association of the U.S. Army’s Rhode Island Chapter, please visit http://riroa.org/ausari/main.htm.