Boston Revives JROTC Awards After COVID Hiatus, Names Inaugural Gillen Excellence Award

BOSTON — July 19, 2026 — Boston revives its JROTC Awards of Excellence ceremony after a COVID-era hiatus, honoring cadets from six public high schools. Veterans Services Commissioner Rob Santiago presided over the Saturday morning ceremony at City Hall, which included City Council resolutions, mayoral awards, and the inaugural Commander Robert L. Gillen Award for Overall Excellence — a plaque made from wood of USS Constitution — presented to Cadet Ryan Cruz of South Boston Excel High School for winning an essay contest. City Council President Ed Flynn, at-large Councilor Erin Murphy, High School Superintendent Ted Lombardi, and Mayor Michelle Wu all addressed the assembled cadets, families, and school staff. The ceremony also honored the legacy of Commander Gillen, the 59th Commanding Officer of USS Constitution and former NJROTC instructor at West Roxbury High School, with a mayoral proclamation declaring June 3, 2022 Commander Robert L. Bob Gillen Day in the City of Boston; his sister Irene Gillum Moffitt and brother Mo Gillen attended and received a commemorative paperweight made from Constitution wood.