Bardin’s graduation provides proud moment for Wickenburg

By Art Pulis

Blue Angels and flying caps were part of Justin Bardin’s graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. He proudly displays his diploma while fianc/e fits his new officer’s cap.

Special to The Sun

0900 on Friday, May 23 was a proud moment for family, friends and all of Wickenburg as Midshipman First Class Justin James Bardin marched into the stadium at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Two hours later, he was honored with distinction for ranking No. 22 in his class of more than 1,000 and being one of only nine to maintain a perfect academic record of 4.0.

The pageantry and tradition of the Annapolis graduation and commissioning ceremony started with the march of Midshipmen, was broken up by the deafening thunder of the Blue Angels as they made a low-pass salute, and concluded by the traditional tossing of the hats into the air.

The ceremony was a fascinating combination of military and academic as the Midshipman graduated with degrees from one of the top schools in the country, took the oath of office, and were commissioned as officers into the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Many in Wickenburg have followed Bardin’s distinctive four years after his graduation from Wickenburg High School. He survived his demanding plebe year, matured as he learned academic, social, and leadership skills, and distinguished himself through interesting and demanding special assignments.

Bardin said that only once did he question if he would make it. When he returned to the Academy from his plebe year Christmas vacation in Wickenburg, he realized that he still had several months of rigorous study and punishing training that went with surviving the first year in a military academy.

“The most difficult thing I had to learn was how to balance the physical, military leadership, and academic training,” said Bardin. “Much to my relief, Wickenburg High School prepared me well academically so I never had to struggle with grades. I did struggle with swimming, which was an important part of our physical training.

“While we all are required to learn leadership, academics, and physical fitness, I learned that I had to specialize,” continued Bardin. “I chose to specialize in my academics and spent a considerable time studying.”

One humorous incident highlighted Bardin’s plebe year. On a dare from his squad leader, Bardin knocked on the superintendent’s home door to ask if he could borrow his uniform to wear on Halloween. The superintendent’s wife answered the door and said that she would relay the request to her husband. A couple of days later, Bardin received a note from the superintendent that he could stop by the house and pick up the uniform. Bardin went to a Halloween party dressed as a three-star admiral.

Another significant event in Bardin’s schooling was a brigade leadership position where he developed a training program for the Midshipmen in connection with the Holocaust Museum. The assignment directly resulted from a summer trip to Poland and involved potential officers’ conflicts involving orders and ethics.

Bardin received significant recognition and notoriety as a result of the project, and last month he had the privilege of helping escort Holocaust survivors at the annual remembrance of the event in Washington. He was in good company, as the other official escorts included senators and congressional leaders.

About 50 friends, family, and church members from Wickenburg and other places attended the festivities to honor Bardin and send him off on his next adventure to Harvard. As one of the top graduates, he earned the privilege of attending graduate school directly from the academy and deferring his active duty service. After marriage this summer, he will enter Harvard Business School, where he will have the opportunity to further his study.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to attend what many believe to be the top business school in the country,” said Bardin. “I picked Harvard because they have a significant emphasis on leadership in addition to the analytical business skills.

“I’m pleased to be finished with the academy and thankful that I made it through,” continued Bardin. “The experience certainly increased my prayer life and I’m especially thankful to God for helping me as well as my family and friends who all were helping and encouraging me.”

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