Sharon Resident Leads Through Service

Saturday, alumnus Eli Anderson will help people better understand something that Sharon residents glimpsed in Post Office Square last Veterans Day.

Anderson is a sergeant in the Military Police, where he has served since graduating Sharon High in 2007. And the 772nd Military Police Company will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Massachusetts National Guard's Taunton Armory, 111 Honorable Gordon Owen River Way, Taunton.

Last November, Anderson recalls, he was able to bring a Humvee to Sharon's observance. Two other soldiers came as well, as did a fire truck, he says.

"I was really happy we were able to to that," Anderson recalls.

"It's nice to see people come out for things like that."

Anderson says Saturday's event is in the same spirit.

"The military is very secluded from society," he says.

"(The open house) gives people a chance to come and see exactly what we do, what our capabilities are and how we can serve the country, and gives us a chance to interact with kids and adults."

Anderson says his family inspired him to enlist in the Military Police in April 2007, shortly before his Sharon High graduation.

"My family has a long line and history of people serving our country," he says. His paternal grandfather served in the Air Force Security Force, and his maternal grandfather served in the Navy.

"I've always looked up to those who went and served their country, put their community and their country before themselves."

Anderson says he was among the MPs sent to the Springfield area to assist with tornado relief in 2011.

"People were thrilled we were out there, because they were having so many problems with looting in some neighborhoods that were destroyed," he says.

"As MPs, our job was to protect these neighborhoods."

Anderson is serving his community on two fronts.

He recently began attending the 26-week MBTA Police Academy, and anticipates graduating in December. He is a special police officer in Sharon. Anderson says he now is studying criminal justice in college. He is halfway toward his bachelor's degree, which is on hold while he attends the police academy.

"I've always had a desire to help those in a time of need. I wanted to be there to help people," Anderson says.

An encounter during his childhood continues inspiring him.

"I can remember being a little kid playing outside with my brother. To this day, I have no idea who the officer was, but it was a Sharon police officer, and he stopped and he talked to us and he showed us his car," Anderson recalls.

"He took the time to talk to us. It was awesome."