Published: December 13, 2008 11:46 pm      

Cadets marching toward history

Nicholas JROTC to represent W.Va. in inaugural parade

Barack Hussein Obama will take the oath of office as America’s 44th president on Jan. 20, and cadets from the Nicholas County Army Junior ROTC’s Wilderness Battalion will be on hand to welcome their new commander-in-chief.

In fact, they alone will represent the entire state of West Virginia in the Presidential Inaugural Parade.

“The kids were able to see, ‘Look what happens when you try,’” said battalion director Lt. Col. Debra Tompkins.

“That’s what they did. It’s a real honor for them. They are tremendously excited. They’ve worked very hard, and they deserve this.”

According to Tompkins, the Armed Forces Parade Inaugural Committee solicited participants for next month’s parade via the JROTC’s Cadet Command. She and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Long perused the information and pondered whether the cadets would want to strive for this.

Strive they did, declared Tompkins, as the cadets and their leaders put together a packet and a five-minute video in two days demonstrating their community service.

The video also featured the cadets laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier last April 18.

Tompkins received the phone call confirming her battalion’s acceptance into the inaugural parade while her cadets were lining up for Summersville’s Christmas parade last weekend.

She didn’t take the call at the time but was elated when she later checked her voice mail.

“I verified Saturday that nobody was pulling a joke on us. We were originally going to go to Gettysburg. Plans have changed,” she quipped. “I think our feet are finally coming back down to the ground. We know there’s a lot of work to do to get ready.”

The 46 cadets from both Nicholas County and Richwood high schools will depart around 8 a.m. Jan. 19 and return to the Mountain State late Jan. 20, Tompkins explained.

If security permits, they hope to visit wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Sgt. Nicholas Hall, along with Nicholas County schools superintendent Beverly Kingery and a pair of teachers, will accompany Long, Tompkins and the 46 cadets to the nation’s capital.

“This will be an absolutely historic inauguration, and it’s just wonderful that the Wilderness Battalion will be representing Nicholas County and our entire state during the parade,” U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said.

“It will be a proud moment for the battalion members and their families. I’d like to congratulate each of them on this tremendous honor, which is a signal of their hard work and stellar reputation.”

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The cadets need such items as thermal undergarments, hand and toe warmers, and funds to get them there, Tompkins noted. “They appreciate any and all donations to help with the cost of the trip,” she added.

Such donations can be sent to Tompkins’ attention at NCCTC-JROTC, 215 Milam Addition Road, Craigs ville, WV 26205. For more information, you may contact Tompkins at 304-742-3065.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com