Every year, many Edgewood seniors make the decision to enter the military. Among this year’s recruits are Mike Magaha and Joe Kelley, both going to the Marines, and Alex Emge, who is going to the Navy.

Most people just don’t have it in themselves to join a branch of the military, but these fine young men are scared of nothing.

“If my parents can do it , then so can I,” Emge said. ”It’s a great way to serve your country and protect people.”

Joining the military is a huge step, and having your friends and family supporting you is a great thing. Luckily for Emge, his entire mother’s side of the family has been in the Navy, along with his father.

“My blood is blue and gold,” Emge said.

Emge has his life planned out already at the age of eighteen. He is going to go into the Navy to become a nuclear engineer (a six figure job) and then hopefully an officer. He would also like to command his own ship.

The Navy is not the only military branch that will have seniors from EHS. Going into the Marines is our very own Joe Kelley.

“I’m doing this to serve my country. It’s a big step into becoming a man. Also, it’s a solid foundation for the rest of my life,” Kelley said.

Kelley’s family is also very supportive of him going into the military. But his mom originally wanted him to go straight to college and play football. Kelley is not going to give up on that dream.

He plans to go into the Marines for four years, come out of the service and go to college to play football. If that does not work out he will return to the Marines and make a career out of it.

All of the military men joke around and have a little battle about which branch of the military is the best. Even so, they all know that each branch is a necessity and very honorable.

“Any branch of the military is a great way to serve your country honorably, the military will take care of you in more ways than one. I am going in to defend my country, so that the people I love and care about can sleep safely,” Emge said.