FMS Color Guard Performs at Invitation of Former Army Chief of Staff
The Fishburne Military School Color Guard, following on the heels of a 1st Place finish at the “Blue Streak” Invitational JROTC Drill Meet, traveled to Washington, DC at the invitation of former Army Chief of Staff General Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret. in order to perform the opening ceremony for the Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.
General Sullivan, who is currently President of the AUSA, personally welcomed the FMS Cadets to the meeting’s headquarters hotel, The Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, where they posted the colors to open the Chapter Presidents Dinner on Sunday. Sullivan presented each Cadet with a specially minted “challenge coin” commemorating the event and spent time chatting with each young man and posing for photos with the Guard.
According to the AUSA website, this annual meeting attracts over 36,000 guests annually and “is a Professional Development Forum focusing on panel discussions, educational forums, and multimedia presentations and workshops that showcase the Army, the soldier and the Army family”.
With over 300 guests (primarily retired Generals and Command Sergeants Major) in attendance at the Chapter Presidents Dinner, the Fishburne Cadets drew a standing ovation for their presentation of the Colors. The dinner’s speaker was Gen. Robert Cone, commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
The Fishburne Military School Color Guard performs regularly at various functions throughout the state. The 2012-2013 FMS Color Guard is commanded by Cadet Staff Sergeant Kurt Wiegand, of Oak Hill, VA. 1Sgt James Hensley is the FMS Color Guard coach and advisor.
