Kaine and Goodlatte Agree: Fishburne Should March

Senator Tim Kaine meets with members of the Fishburne Military School Raiders Team. The Team performed a rappelling and one-rope bridge demonstration as part of Senator Kaine’s tour of Fishburne’s Waynesboro Campus in August of 2013.

Waynesboro, VA – It isn’t every day that Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte find themselves solidly in agreement. This week, however, both men enthusiastically recommended that Fishburne Military School be invited to march in the 58th Presidential Inauguration Parade.

In letters submitted to the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, Kaine and Goodlatte both noted Fishburne Military School’s significant history and recognized the school’s well-respected reputation as one of America’s oldest Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) units.

Representative Goodlatte’s letter notes: “Throughout my tenure, I have been aware of the strong academic program and commitment to military-style training and service offered by [Fishburne Military School] … The corps would do a tremendous job during the Inaugural Parade as ambassadors for Fishburne Military School, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Sixth Congressional District.”

Senator Kaine’s endorsement highlights Fishburne Military School’s historical significance, stating “Fishburne is the oldest and smallest military school in the Commonwealth of Virginia … and is also one of the oldest JROTC programs in the nation.” Kaine toured the Waynesboro Campus in August of 2013 while visiting the area.

Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. FMS is 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, accredited by US Army Cadet Command.