On Oct. 5, when the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins take the field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, the eyes of more than 70,000 fans and a national television audience will be fixed on the opening ceremony. Leading that moment will be six cadets from Union High School’s Junior ROTC program, tasked with presenting the nation’s colors on one of the NFL’s biggest stages.

For Union, a small but tight-knit school in the Rose Hill and Delway community of Sampson County, the honor represents far more than a brief appearance on national television. It is a recognition of four decades of JROTC leadership, training, and tradition, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students who will march at midfield.

“This is a huge opportunity for our program, our school, and especially f

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