Fishburne Military School Caissons Roll in Governor’s Inauguration
Fishburne Military School Caissons Roll in Inauguration
Richmond, VA — One hundred members of the Fishburne Military School Corps of Cadets proudly marched through Richmond, VA’s Capitol Square on Saturday to help inaugurate the Commonwealth’s 73rd Governor, Ralph Northam.
FMS, the oldest and smallest military school for boys in Virginia, was officially invited to march in the event by Governor Northam’s Inauguration Committee in late December.
School Superintendent Captain Mark Black, USN(Ret) noted upon receiving word of the invitation “Fishburne Military School is tremendously honored to accept this invitation. As an Army Junior ROTC Honor Unit with Distinction, we pride ourselves upon teaching our young men the importance of honor, citizenship and self-discipline. Being included in an historic moment such as this is something that our Cadets will proudly recall for the rest of their lives.”
Saturday’s frigid march marked the second time that the Fishburne Military School Corps of Cadets has appeared in the Virginia Gubernatorial Inauguration. The Caissons marched in the 1986 Inauguration of Fishburne Alumnus Gerald Baliles (FMS Class of 1959), who served as Virginia’s 65th Governor.
Fishburne Military School’s Senior Army Instructor, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hunt, USA(Ret) wasn’t bothered by the short amount of preparation time the Cadets had before the event. “Our young men are definitely up to the task,” he explained following the group’s only full-dress practice parade, which took place in Waynesboro just four days prior to the big day. “Having prepared for the Presidential Inauguration last year, and coming off a great performance there, the Cadet leadership was confident.”
Following Saturday’s march, Hunt happily noted “The Corps came together and performed flawlessly despite the cold, noise and excitement. The did an excellent and professional job. These young men absolutely performed in keeping with the highest traditions of Fishburne Military School. They should all be proud and I’m sure that they carry fond memories of these events for the rest of their lives.”
In January of 2017, Fishburne Military School marched in their first Presidential Inauguration. Since its founding in 1879, the Waynesboro, Virginia military school has also marched in review for dignitaries such as President Calvin Coolidge, Virginia Governor Harry Flood Byrd, and Secretaries of the Army Generals George C. Marshall and Eric Shinseki.
Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built on the structure of an Army JROTC program. FMS has been designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academies. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation that is accredited by US Army Cadet Command.
