After two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gloucester High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps celebrated the return of its annual Military Ball, which was held on Saturday at the Gloucester Moose Lodge.

Each year, the NJROTC Military Ball is hosted by the senior cadets for the underclassmen as a reward for their hard work over the course of the school year. This year’s planning was led by cadets Alexis Sharretts, Daniella Asnicar and Madison Graham.

“At first we didn’t know that we were going to have it due to Covid, so our planning window was shorter than in previous years,” said Sharretts.

Despite the challenges they were tasked with, many of the senior cadets took on roles in financing, fundraising and decorating for the ball. The cadets held a car wash, raffles and other fundraising events to defray the costs of the dance.

During the ball, the instructors and cadets kept to the military customs and traditions that are followed ea...