On Saturday, 26 March 2022 the American Legion and Unity Reed HS hosted and VA-20065 competed in the URHS Lions Drill meet consisting of units from both the USAF and Army JROTC units with 6 schools in attendance. Sadly, several units could not attend stemming from having to rebuild their teams because of COVID. Yesterday’s competition was the first of its kind since the pandemic shutdowns.
I’m proud to announce VA-20065 is the Regional champion earning several trophies! Our team, led by C/MSgt Kathryn Laing and C/SSgt Jonathan Hernandez along with team commanders: C/Lt Col Ashley Corado Rivas, C/Major Quintin Harrison Washington, C/2Lt Serenity Fraser, C/TSgt Gio Benetiz, C/SSgt Alejandra Lobos, C/SrA Jocelyn Gonzales put on a stellar performance earning:
– 1st Year Inspection: 1st Place
– Advanced Inspection: 1st Place
– Advanced Color Guard Team A and Team B: 2nd Place (tie)
– 1st Year Color Guard Team A: 1st Place
– 1st Year Color Guard Team B: 1st Place
– Advanced Unarmed Regulation: 1st Place
– 1st Year Unarmed Regulation: 2nd Place
– Armed Regulation: 1st Place
– Unarmed Exhibition: No contest, 1st Place
– Armed Exhibition: No contest, 1st Place
Overall: 1st Place in Prince William County and North Virginia!
Video links of the performance:
Overall video:
https://youtu.be/FpGloU9F1XA
Unarmed Exhibition:
https://youtu.be/FesJYXbXUHA
Armed Exhibition:
https://youtu.be/jrY1smtTUx4
Advanced Unarmed Regulation:
https://youtu.be/Gk2MbMboqaY
1st Year Unarmed Regulation:
https://youtu.be/BJ5JfBIVJ6g
Armed Regulation:
https://youtu.be/5LD-ocy6B48
Advanced Inspection:
https://youtu.be/VdTo4IXePOo
1st Year Inspection:
https://youtu.be/H0PV7KKSQnU
Advanced Color Guard Team A:
https://youtu.be/V7qE_UPaNtg
Advanced Color Guard Team B:
https://youtu.be/FR2GYYCo9Io
1st Year Color Guard Team A:
https://youtu.be/aKlSenA9ZTA
1st Year Color Guard Team B:
https://youtu.be/jhPw943uRUg
Please help me congratulate these awesome kids on a job well done and wish them well for the upcoming Virginia State Drill Championship on 30 April 2022 at Atlee High in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Team members include:
Commander: Kate Laing
NCOIC: Jonathan Hernandez
Armed Exhibition Commander: Gio Benetiz
Unarmed Exhibition Commander: Ashley Corado Rivas
1st Year Inspection Commander: Serenity Fraser
Advanced Inspection Commander: Serenity Fraser
Advanced Color Guard Team A Commander: Quintin Harrison Washington
Advanced Color Guard Team B Commander: Kate Laing
1st Year Color Guard Team A Commander: Alejandra Lobos
1st Year Color Guard Team B Commander: Jocelyn Gonzales Hernandez
Advanced Unarmed Regulations Commander: Kate Laing
1st Year Unarmed Regulation Commander: Serenity Fraser
Armed Regulation Commander: Gio Benetiz
Team Members:
Joceyln Aquino
Gio Benetiz
Ashley Corado Rivas
Raul Cordova
Caleum Crips-Sorger
Crisbel Estrada Espana
Joshua Fraser
Serenity Fraser
Jocelyn Gonzales Hernandez
Quintin Harrison Washington
Ben Jensen
Kate Laing
Alejandra Lobos
Adriana Martinez-Rivera
Kevin Navarro
Phuc Nguyen
Daniella Palma
Erika Reyes
Rayshard Robinson
Ashley Rodriguez Montecino
Brianna Sommariba
Andrea Torres-Portillo
Tina M. Laing, TSgt, USAF (retired)
Aerospace Science Instructor
AFJROTC Unit VA-20065
A message from District Commander Mark Stein:
I would like to thank all who participated and help this past weekend with the American Legion 16th District of Virginia JROTC Color Guard Competition at Unity Reed High School. The comments I received from the parents and Cadets were heart warming. You all displayed to the community what the American Legion is about! A special shout out to our Adjutant Bob Brady for helping me put this together.
Well done 16th District, Well done!
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Mark A. Stein
Commander
American Legion, 16th District of Virginia