The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce honored 24 graduating seniors who have committed to serving in the United States military during a first-of-its-kind enlistment signing ceremony for the Chamber last Thursday morning.

• The event, held during the Chamber’s monthly networking breakfast, drew 346 guests including family members, business leaders, military officials and local dignitaries. Florida Power & Light sponsored the breakfast.

Chamber CEO Sandra Wilson said the idea had been in the works for months before taking shape in December, when School District Public Information Officer Catherine Card connected the chamber with Crestview High School. Wilson said the chamber met with teachers and Principal Victoria Hayden, then worked with administrators at Baker and Laurel Hill high schools to identify students who had committed to enlist.

“We celebrate athletes and signing up to colleges, and I thought we also need to celebrate the young people that join the military,'” Wilson said.

Wilson, whose husband retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service, said she wanted the ceremony to show enlisting seniors that the local business community supports their decision.

• “I know that it’s a tough decision,” she said. “And I just wanted to throw our weight behind that and support them.”

She said many military retirees settle in the area and go on to start businesses or become involved with the chamber, and she wanted the students to see that connection.

“I want them to know this is a place you can come back to as well after 20-25 years in service,” Wilson said. “You can come back and start a business here.”

One student from Walton High School also participated after hearing about the event.

Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Marcus Chambers and Assistant Superintendent John Spolski helped recognize the students and called each enlistee forward during the program. Chambers coined each of the recruits as they exited the stage.

Col. William Smith, the Special Operations Mission Support Group commander from AFSOC, delivered remarks to the recruits. Neko Stubblefield, chair of the chamber’s Military Affairs Committee from Eglin Federal Credit Union, also offered words of encouragement.

• Military leaders from several installations were in attendance, including Col. Bradley Goodyear from the 6th Ranger Training Battalion with Chief Master Sergeant Steven Card, and Maj. David Scott Connolly with the 7th Special Forces Group. Chief Master Sergeant Wilford, who serves with Col. Smith, was also present. Recruiters representing the Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Air Force were on hand.

The Chamber also presented a letter of commendation to Dawn Hart, AFSOC chief of community relations, for her work coordinating military representatives for the ceremony.

The Crestview High School band performed the national anthem, and the school’s JROTC presented the colors. Outside, the Crestview Fire Department staged a firetruck flag display.

As part of the program, the Chamber lined up active-duty service members and retirees in attendance to form a legacy line, shaking hands and high-fiving the recruits as they walked offstage.

“As they walked off, they got some encouragement from that group of people,” Wilson said.

Tressie Martin sponsored more than 350 challenge coins that were distributed to attendees. Fyzical Crestview sponsored centerpieces representing each branch of the military. The Chamber also awarded four $1,000 scholarships to Okaloosa County seniors continuing their education in college.

Wilson said FPL representative Bernard Johnson, who regularly sponsors the chamber’s breakfast, spoke during the program about his own connection to the area through his father’s military service.

• “That was neat for the recruits to see how things come full circle and how lots of our people here, especially in the business sector, still have these military connections and the reason why they’re actually in this area,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the response from the community was overwhelming. She said she received messages of support via text and Facebook well into the evening and expects the ceremony to become an annual event. She also added that she also hopes the ceremony helps the young enlistees push through the challenges of basic training.

“Knowing that your hometown is behind you and we’re hoping to hear a good report of you making it through and seeing the world out there and then coming back eventually is the heart of all of this,” Wilson said.

The Emerald Coast Military Affairs Committee hosted a similar ceremony for students from Fort Walton Beach, Niceville and Destin at the Air Force Armament Museum on Tuesday night.