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Saturday, May 22, 2010, Dunbar Middle School (DMS) Junior Cadet Corps (JCC) along with the Forest Oak Middle School (FOMS) Junior Cadet Corps participated in their First Annual Joint Military Ball. It was an extravaganza of classic elegance featuring young women in beautiful gowns and young men in their finest attire. The hall was tastefully adorned in blue, red and silver. The ambiance of the evening exemplified a measure of class, pride and standards that the JCC Cadets are to uphold at all times. The overall experience epitomizes the very essence of what JCC represents.
The cadets at Dunbar Middle School and Forest Oak Middle spent time learning etiquette to prepare for the ball, according to MSG John Whitfield, Army instructor for DMS and SFC Samuel Perry, Army instructor FOMS. This included instruction on appropriate dress, behavior, and table etiquette.
The evening began as the cadets and guest entered the ballroom and remained standing and silent, while the DMS’s Color Guard posted the American Flag and the State Flag, then as Forest Oaks Middle School’s Cadet Katelyn Mendel, said a prayer for the evening. A brief welcome followed along with a formal tribute and a toast to SFC Wren, a JROTC instructor who passed away unexpectedly this school year. The distinguished guests in attendance were Principal Patricia Williams (FOMS), JCC Coordinator Chief Jeremiah Marshall and his spouse, Chief Lynn Taylor SAI for Dunbar High School “Go Wildcats”, and Senior Chief Toney Turner and spouse from Rosemont Middle School. The guest speaker was FWISD Corps Commander Colonel Payton Anderson from Dunbar High.
Cadets received awards and trophies from both instructors for various accomplishments. The categories for these awards and trophies embodied positive behavior, uncompromising character, strong leadership qualities, and commitment to community and school service. Trophies were given to DMS’s Commander of Cadet (COC) DeVonte Johnson, Assistant Commander of Cadets (ACOC) Keira Gentry, FOMS Commander of Cadets Salvador Garcia and Assistant Commander of Cadet Katelyn Mendel for their leadership and their commitment to the DMS JCC program. Not only did these four cadets demonstrate phenomenal leadership qualities, but they proved to also be very popular among the cadets as the pair walked away with the honor of the evening’s King and Queen. Cadets Passion Turner and Jarred Hogan from DMS were crowned as prince and princess for the evening. Cadets Salvador Garcia and Maria Garcia were crowned as prince and princess for FOMS.
“I had a terrific time.” said Cadet Mendez Monday morning following the ball. “This was an amazing experience for me and my friends.” “This was certainly a night to remember.”
The event carried on to the changing of the Commander of Cadets from DMS’s Cadet Devonte Johnson to Cadet Tybreonce Sims and FOMS’s Cadet Salvador Garcia to Cadet Ashlyn Huey. This ceremony signifies the passing of responsibilities from one cadet the other.
The night ended with the students dancing to the latest music. View JCC Military Ball Photo Gallery |