The Mountain Home High School NJROTC Bomber Battalion will hold its 18th annual “Freedom Isn’t Free” ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 8 a.m. in Dunbar Auditorium. The keynote address will be delivered by State Rep. Stetson Painter, with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, and veterans, active-duty service members, and their families are encouraged to arrive early for seating and recognition by students, faculty, and the community.
Painter, who represents District 3 covering parts of Baxter and Fulton counties, is serving his second term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. A member of the Army Reserve since age 17, he is active in the American Legion and earned his associate degree from Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.
Lt. Cmdr. Allan Hale, the Senior Naval Science Instructor for the Bomber Battalion, stated that the ceremony’s purpose remains consistent: to remind cadets and attendees that the freedoms enjoyed daily come at a profound personal cost. The cadets oversee every aspect of the event, from arranging the auditorium to conducting military honors.
Highlights of the program will include a 12-member color guard representing all branches of the United States Armed Forces and a flag-folding demonstration that explains the significance of the 13 folds of the American flag. The Mountain Home High School choir will also perform the national anthem and a medley of patriotic songs.
The “Freedom Isn’t Free” ceremony has drawn a variety of notable speakers in recent years. In 2024, Cmdr. Michael Huber, commanding officer of the USS Arkansas, addressed nearly 900 students, just one year after the Virginia-class submarine officially partnered with the Mountain Home NJROTC program. Last year’s keynote was given by State Rep. Jason Nazarenko of District 4.
The Bomber Battalion has seen significant growth in recent years. Once threatened with the loss of Navy funding due to low enrollment, the program rebounded under leadership from Hale and Chief Jason Williams, with enrollment climbing from 73 cadets in 2021. It has since been named Most Outstanding Unit in Area 13, which encompasses 23 programs across Arkansas and parts of five other states. This fall, the cadets’ accomplishments have included winning the Brain Brawl, taking third place in a drone competition at the Area 19 qualifier, and touring the Wings of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge.
Veterans who wish to be recognized at the ceremony or who have questions may contact Lt. Cmdr. Hale at 870-425-1215 or via email at ahale@mhbombers.com.
The morning event at the high school is coordinated to allow participants to attend Mountain Home’s Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m., held at the First Security Bank Veterans Plaza 2000 in downtown Mountain Home. That program is hosted by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30 on behalf of the North Central Arkansas Veterans Council, with Hale serving as its guest speaker this year.