Friday will mark the 100th anniversary of the Army Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and will honor the Pride of PA Battilon Hall of Fame class of 2016 inductees.

The event will take place at 2 p.m. Friday in the Yehl Ballroom of the Waldron Campus Center.

The Pride of PA Battalion consists of Army ROTC students from Gannon, Mercyhurst University and Edinboro University and will be recognized Friday.

Thirty-two years after President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act in 1916, Gannon’s Army ROTC program was established. It began in the fall of 1948 in hopes of fulfilling the mission of the National Defense Act of developing the leadership of the U.S. Army.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are Ret. Col. Joseph J. Gaeta and Ret. Brig.  Gen. Ernest S. Ellis.

In 1962 after his graduation from Gannon, Gaeta was commissioned as a second lieutenant and held a degree in business administration.

He is the recipient of both military and civilian awards for his commitment and dedication to the U.S. Army. Gaeta is also the co-founder of the Gannon Athletics Booster Club and has served as a member of the club for over 40 years.

The second inductee, Ellis, enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served his country for 34 years. During the European Theatre of World War II, Ellis served as an enlisted military police solider.

It wasn’t until 1951 that he graduated from Gannon with a degree in business administration and was commissioned to second lieutenant.

In addition to the induction of the 2016 Hall of Fame class, Gannon’s Army ROTC program will be recognizing five seniors: Kayla Irwin, Mackenzie Kranz, David Marshall, Christopher Rentschler and Anthony Sinagoga.