KINGSTON, R.I. -- May 10, 2002 -- The University of Rhode Island Military Science Department Spring 2002 Commissioning Ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday May 19 in front of Keaney Gym on URI’s Kingston Campus. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held inside the gym.

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program at URI, known as the Cramer’s Sabers Battalion, is composed of students from URI, Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University.

The ceremony is conducted in accordance with a long standing Army tradition where newly commissioned officers are sworn into the service and have their gold second lieutenants’ bars pinned upon their uniforms.

The six commissionees are senior members of the ROTC and will also receive their academic degrees from their Universities later in the day during Commencement.

Receiving commissions from URI are Second Lieutenants Justin Bednarz of Marlborough, Ct. (engineer corps), James Towle (ordnance corps) of Portsmouth, Adam Dipetrillo (signal corps) of Cumberland and Scott Eddy (military intelligence, branch detail infantry) of Tiverton.

Receiving commissions from Roger Williams University are Second Lieutenants Carl Palmaccio (military intelligence, branch detail infantry) of Johnston, and James Seward (aviation) of Toms River, N.J.

Master Sgt. Carl Johnson will present the traditional "first salute" to the new officer as he formally begins his career as an Army officer and present him with a silver dollar, which if spent will bring the officer bad luck.

A reception at Keaney Gym will follow the ceremony.

For Information: Master Sgt. Carl R. Johnson, 874-5425, Jan Wenzel, 874-2116