by Carrie Cox
On Saturday, Nov. 5, the Highty-Tighties, the Color Guard, and the Gregory Guard will represent the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets as they march in the Virginia’s Veterans Parade in downtown Roanoke. Fullhart will serve as the Senior Reviewing Officer for the parade which will start at 11 a.m.
On Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. the Cadets will hold a Veterans Day remembrance ceremony in the War Memorial Chapel to recognize all veterans and to honor the service that Virginia Tech men and women have given our nation. All are invited to attend this special ceremony.
Retired Maj. Gen. Randal Fullhart, Commandant of Cadets of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, will speak, the service songs will be played, and then all attendees will be asked to proceed up to the War Memorial for the placing of a memorial wreath.
At 11 a.m. University President Charles W. Steger will place the wreath in front of the cenotaph on Memorial Court. The Gregory Guard, the Corps of Cadets rifle drill team, will fire a rifle salute, and taps will be played.
Eleven o’clock is a symbolic time on this special day. Veterans Day, formerly called Armistice Day, was initially created to celebrate the signing of the Armistice at the end of World War I. The Armistice took effect at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918.
In addition, at 4:45 p.m., the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold a formal retreat ceremony at the flag pole on Upper Quad. The regiment will be formed between Lane, Brodie, and Rasche Halls. The Color Guard will lower the flag, Skipper, the Corps of Cadets cannon, will fire, and the Highty-Tighties, the regimental band, will play.
The corps will also be holding two vigil ceremonies to honor our nation’s veterans. Arnold Air Society, a professional service organization in Air Force ROTC, will be holding a 24-hour vigil at the Rock on Upper Quad from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday. Two cadets will be posted as guards and will change every half an hour. Volunteers from the entire Corps of Cadets will take turns.
The second vigil will be located at the War Memorial. Echo Company will hold a 48-hour vigil from midnight Wednesday to midnight Friday. Two cadets will be posted as guards at the cenotaph and will change every hour. All current and many former members of Echo Company will participate in the vigil. All are welcome to come and view these ceremonies.
The Rock is a memorial to Virginia Tech alumni lost in WWI and is located next to the flag pole on Upper Quad. Cadets salute this memorial whenever they pass it to honor the sacrifice of these men. All Hokies are encouraged to place their hand over their heart when passing it, as cadets do when out of uniform.
The Pylons are a representation of Virginia Tech’s values. The values engraved on the eight pylons are, (from left to right): Brotherhood, Honor, Leadership, Sacrifice, Service, Loyalty, Duty, and Ut Prosim. The Pylons are etched with the names of 427 Virginia Tech students and graduates who have died defending our nation’s freedom. At the memorial’s center, the cenotaph displays the names of Virginia Tech’s seven Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
With a visitor’s pass, parking is available on the Drillfield, and along the Alumni Mall. Parking is also available in Perry Street Lots and the Perry Street Parking Garage near Prices Fork Road with a visitor’s pass. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, located at 965 Prices Fork Road, near the intersection of Prices Fork and University City Boulevard next to the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. A visitor’s pass may also be obtained from the Virginia Tech Police Station, located on Sterrett Drive, outside of the Visitor Information Center hours. Find more parking information online at www.parking.vt.edu or call 540-231-3200.
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is one of just two military corps within a large public university. The corps holds its members to the highest standards of loyalty, honor, integrity, and self-discipline. In return, cadets achieve high academic success and a long-lasting camaraderie with fellow members.
