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Marysville man honors high school roots at Navy commissioning

Published 1:30 am Monday, September 17, 2018

By Herald Staff

Marysville man honors high school roots at Navy commissioning
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Marysville man honors high school roots at Navy commissioning
Leighton Flores, of Marysville, accepts his commissioning to the rank of ensign in the U.S. Navy from his former Marysville Navy Junior ROTC senior naval science instructor, retired Commander Randolph Brasfield, at a ceremony held Sept. 9 at Naval Station Everett. (Contributed photo)
Leighton Flores, of Marysville, gives his first salute to his former Marysville Navy Junior ROTC naval science instructor Chief Kathy Wilde at a ceremony held Sept. 9 at Naval Station Everett. (Contributed photo)
U.S. Navy Ensign Leighton Flores celebrates his Sept. 9 commissioning with family at Naval Station Everett. (Contributed photo)

U.S. Navy Ensign Leighton Flores recently graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. For his commissioning ceremony, Flores returned home to pay respect to the Marysville School District’s Navy Junior ROTC program.

At a Sept. 9 ceremony at Naval Station Everett, Flores accepted his rank from his former senior naval science instructor, retired Cmdr. Randolph Brasfield. And for a Navy first salute tradition, he requested instructor Chief Kathy Wilde. The tradition has newly commissioned officers give a silver dollar to the recipient of their first salute. While they “buy” their first salute, they must earn the rest by earning respect through good conduct.

Flores is a 2013 graduate of Marysville Getchell High School. He is the son of retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Joey Flores and Leilani Supnet Flores.

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