Laura Greenback, The Examiner
2007-02-19 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Annapolis -

“Give me a war face!” Scott Bierman yelled.

His battalion of 9– to 12–year–olds turned and screamed at a group of visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Bierman, an academy tour guide, taught the children military basics at the Navy Way Basic Boot Camp on Saturday at the academy.

“I hope they have fun, and hopefully, they will pick something up,” he said. “I would like them to get excited about the Naval Academy, because this is my favorite place on the planet.”

Children ages 6 through 12, wearing white Dixie cup “caps,” learned how to march, salute and follow orders.

Bierman led his group on a tour of the campus and gave them a brief history of some of its attractions, including the guarded crypt of John Paul Jones, who is credited as the academy’s first naval hero because of his actions during the Revolutionary War.

“A lot of people don’t understand the history behind this place. It’s a fascinating place. We’re just doing all the cool stuff today,” Bierman said.

Most of the boot camp participants are from military families who are eager to pass on the Navy, Army, Marine or Coast Guard tradition.

“We grew up in the military. It’s good to show them the importance of duty, honor and patriotism,” said Army Capt. Allison LoPresti, who graduated from West Point.

LoPresti and her husband, sister, and brother-in-law traveled more than three hours from Chesapeake, Va., so their sons could participate in the boot camp.

The event was brought to a close as the children were sworn in at a graduation ceremony in Dahlgren Hall.

The event was sponsored by the academy’s Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center.

lgreenback@baltimoreexaminer.com