Alex Siemann’s dedication to his country and to “service above self” has earned him a coveted nomination to the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy by U.S. Congressman Warren Davidson. However, what may be even more impressive is how Cadet Siemann created a unique fundraiser for the Honor Flight program that serves the veterans he so ardently respects and admires.

Alex Siemann is a senior at Tecumseh High School and has been a cadet in Tecumseh’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) since he was a freshman. Siemann joined the AFJROTC to not just learn about the military, but for the opportunities it affords him to build character, to practice service before self, and to help his community.

Tecumseh’s AFJROTC program has supported Honor Flight for 10 years, which inspired Cadet Siemann to look for a way he could personally offer financial support to the program.

Cadet Siemann finally hit upon the idea to make the Bataan Death March Memorial hike he set up to give Tecumseh’s AFJROTC cadets an opportunity to earn a new ribbon, into a fundraiser for Honor Flight as well.

The Bataan Death March Memorial hike gives participants an opportunity to honor the thousands of U.S. and Filipino troops who suffered together through one of the most infamous and tragic events in U.S. military history.

AFJROTC cadets gathered pledges in support of the Memorial hike, then either walked or ran 14 miles on Dec. 17 in honor of the thousands of troops who were exposed to excruciating conditions during the arduous 65-mile Bataan Death March of World War II.

In spite of frigid conditions, all 30 cadets who participated finished the Memorial hike in just under 5 hours. All of the monies collected are being donated directly to Honor Flight. In addition to the pledges gathered by his fellow cadets, Siemann also received two large donations from local residents. Renick Brown donated $250 towards the program, and Kevin K. E. Becker and his family donated $500 in memory of Becker’s mother.

So far, Cadet Siemann has collected $1,300, leaving him just $700 short of the $2000 goal.

“It always makes me happy to help veterans, so this Bataan Death March Memorial was a huge opportunity for me to help veterans go to Washington D.C.,” explains Cadet Siemann.

The Tecumseh senior stresses how important Honor Flight and similar programs are in showing respect to veterans and the active duty military personnel currently serving our country.

“The thing that impresses me the most when it comes to Honor Flight is the amount of love shown towards the veterans. Especially the veterans who never received a proper welcome home. (People) should volunteer for the program (because) veterans are the reason we are alive in a free country...These veterans went through unimaginable things. The American people need to show their respect and give some of their time to the veterans because some veterans gave their lives and (others) gave years upon years of their lives for us.”

Cadet Siemann has been deeply involved with Honor Flight during his time in the AFJROTC. He has attended around 21 Honor Flights. In October he commanded the color guard that escorts the veterans at the airport. He has also volunteered at the Honor Flight homecoming dinners held at the end of each Honor Flight season.

Cadet Siemann’s exceptional love and respect for his country can be traced back to his early childhood, much of which was spent in foster care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was adopted by his mother, Serah Siemann, when he was eight years old, then moved to New Carlisle.

Now that the Bataan Death March Memorial is over, Cadet Siemann is focusing more on finishing his senior year, which he hopes includes his acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy.

“I am interested in attending a military academy because I want to give back to the country that gave so much to me,” explains Cadet Siemann, “I was adopted at the age of eight out of the U.S. foster care system. So, for me, going to a military academy is the best way for me to give back and protect my country, which has given me the opportunity that I may not have had in many other countries.”