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Local JROTC unit to serve as Fenway honor guard |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
BY JOSEPH B. NADEAU
WOONSOCKET – Four members of the high school’s junior ROTC unit are about to get a chance to show what they have learned about marching and color guard skills before a very big audience.
No, Cadet Major Christian Gonzalez, Cadet Major Krystal Ivins, 1st. Lt. Ashley St. Sauveur and 2nd. Lt. Jarred Belisle aren’t headed to a local event for that honor or even to a posting of the colors in Providence.
You can expect to see the four local cadets in their Air Force Blue uniforms out in center field at Fenway Park in Boston on May 1 where they will be part of Red Sox pregame ceremonies.
The local ROTC unit recently put in a request to serve as Bosox color guards. They were selected for the May 1 match-up between the Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Lt. Col. Dan Richard, one of the unit’s two instructors.
“I think it’s a great honor for them. I just wish I was going out on the field with them,” said Richard, a native of Beverly and a fan of the team since the 1967 season.
As part of their volunteer duties before the Fenway crowd of more than 35,000, the local students will carry out the American and Canadian flags and stand at attention in the outfield while the national anthems of both countries are played.
Gonzalez and Belisle will carry drill rifles during the short march and Ivins and St. Sauveur the flags.
Richard said it's possible the students will be featured on NESN's TV coverage of the game.
None of the students follow the Sox enough to have voted Jerry Remy president of Red Sox Nation, but St. Sauveur and Ivins said they have memories of attending a Red Sox game when they were children.
“The last game I went to was in 1997 when I went with my school (Bernon Heights Elementary)," St. Sauveur said. “I don’t remember who they played but I know they won by five runs."
St. Sauveur only became involved with the Jr. ROTC this year. She feels doubly honored to be heading to Fenway with her peers.
“It’s rare that a first-year cadet would get an opportunity like this,” she said. What helped, she believes, is her participation in the wing’s competition color guard and drill team during the first semester of school.
Ivins is also counting on the competition team experience to help her fullfill honor guard duties at the Fens.
“It’s exciting because I’m going to be on the field,” Ivins said. The last time Ivins went to Fenway was with her uncle, Ben, where she thinks they watched a Red Sox-Yankees game. “I think the Red Sox lost,” she said.
While not a major baseball fan at the moment, Ivins said she does plan to pay more attention to the Sox after her Fenway visit.
“I like the Sox because they’re in New England and they’re a good team,” she said.
Gonzalez also said he could see himself being a Sox fan after the Toronto contest. “This will be the first major sports game I’ve ever been to,” Gonzalez said.
Belisle was more concerned about having to march out into center field before a king-size crowd than he was about any preferences for sports teams.
“It’s a big honor that the Red Sox chose four cadets from our unit to bring out the flags to start their game,” he said. “I’ll be a little nervous with the 35,000 people there plus those watching on television. You don’t want to mess up.”
Richard was very confident that the cadets were well prepared for the challenge. As for watching the game itself, Richard said that will be decided once the game begins. “Our seats will be wherever we can find a place to stand,” he said. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 May 2008 )
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