Every morning at 8:10am, the Raising of The Colors Ceremony takes place in front of the school building. This ceremony is ran by cadets in our Honor Guard program. Unlike Color Guard however, honor guard will also honor the memorial of Lance Corporal Grez and Lance Corporal Linn (See below). This ceremony is preformed by only a select few cadets, and is among the highest honor that can come from an Extra-Curricular.
Honor Guard is unique to James River High School as we not only raise the flag every day, but also honor the Memorial to James River alumni and Purple Heart recipients, Lance Corporal Linn and Lance Corporal Grez. Every morning we provide a ceremony infront of the school, ran by purely cadets where we go through a routine to properly honor those who gave their lives for our country. With a 21 second salute and 21 steps down memorial path, our cadets get a unique honor no other Chesterfield County Highschool is able to provide.
To Those Who Gave Their Lives: So We Could Live Ours
Born in Midlothian Virginia, June 1984, Lance Corporal Linn held a passion for Robotics, even serving as a founding member of the James River High School "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" (FIRST) Robotics Team. After experiencing the devastating 9/11 attacks, Linn found his call to serve. After his 3rd year at Virginia Commonwealth University he was called to Deploy in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On January 26, 2005 Lance Corporal Linn and his unit where ambushed, suffering an injury from an explosive device, LinnĀ died that same day, to those injuries. After death, his body was laid to rest, where he now resides, the Culpeper National Cemetery.
Born in Long Branch New Jersey, 1984, and moving to Midlothian Virginia in Elementary School. Grez grew up with a passion to help those around them. After a car accident took the life of a close friend of his, Grez dedicated himself to becoming an Emergency Medical Technician, better known as an EMT. His passion to serve continued past High School, where he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve's while going through college at James Madison University. Called into action early he was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On May 11, 2005, just 5 months before he was scheduled to return home, his AAV struck an explosive, killing 4 marines including himself. After death, his body was laid to rest, where he now resides, the Amelia National Cemetery.
Understanding The Ceremony
Every Day, a maximum of 4 cadets will raise the United States and Virginia Flag in front of the school. Saluting the colors, cadets show their respect for the flag, and the men it represents.
After raising the flag, the cadets will take 21 steps down Memorial Path, of which has a carefully crafted length so that the cadets stop right before the Memorial.
After completeing the walk down memorial path, cadets show their respect for the two Purple Heart recipents by providing a 21 second salute for the memorial.
Be the rank of cadet seaman or above
Pass a knowledge exam on the traditions and symbolism of Honor Guard and our fallen alumni
Be a cadet in good standing
Have a consistently pristine uniform
Joining Honor Guard is unlike our other teams, in order to participate in the Ceremony, you have to reach out to our Honor Guard Commander, which is currently c/LCtDR Jude Geilman. From that point you will be given a packet to learn and study, of which on, you will have to complete a verbal test. After you meet all Eligibility Requirements, you will be placed on the Honor Guard Detail, and be assigned a daily morning wave.
Reach out to c/LtCDR Jude Geilman with further questions.