ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - The visit to Rocky River HS on Wednesday morning by US Navy Vice Admiral Forrest Faison was not just a normal visit. It had an extra special meaning as Faison was returning home.
The 1976 graduate of Rocky River HS returned to campus this morning, took a tour and spoke with the junior and senior classes. His visit was part of Navy Week in Cleveland.
"It's great to be back home," Faison told the assembly. "It's great to be back amongst Pirates and it's great to be here with you."
Faison spent part of the morning on a tour of the high school with Principal Rob Winton and other administrators, meeting several teachers and students before addressing the junior and senior classes in the auditorium.
"You can make an incredible difference in the lives of others," Faison said as he addressed the students. "And you are getting your start in the spot I started, right here at Rocky River. The purpose of life for me is to make a difference and help others. Ask yourself what's the purpose of your life. It's not too early to do that. A life will be well-lived and best-lived with service to others. And you can start that today at Rocky River, just like I did."
The Navy Rock Band performed before Faison's address, while an AP Physics class and two AP Chemistry classes received presentations from the US Navy Divers and the EOD Bomb Squad. The students heard talks from the preeminent tactical and technical explosives experts and also had a chance to operate different types of robots used in the field.
