Grants HS Jr ROTC holds benefit

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — On Sunday, organizers of a donation run to raise money to help send the Grants High School Marine JrROTC competitive boys and girls drill teams to the national competition next month, are hoping to have at least 50 participants.

Charlie Allen, a member of the American Legion Riders, said local Jesse L. Finley VFW Post 3221 Commander Freddie Gray asked him and his brother Buddy, to organize this year's fundraising event.

Buddy told the Independent that the brothers have put the event together for three of the past four years, since it's inception 2004.

Gunny Sgt. George Garcia, one of the two Marine Corps instructors for the program, said two teams of 16 each, the “armed” and “unarmed” units will make the trip. The “armed” team is the boys drill team that uses rifles in Marine Crops dress uniforms to compete. The “unarmed” team is the girls team.

Major competition, major cost

The event is May 1-5 in Florida and the Grants teams will be competing against more than 140 other teams from other high schools nationwide.

The trip will cost about $30,000 and the JrROTC unit is about $5,000 short as of Wednesday, Garcia said.

Buddy Allen said he hopes to make a significant dent in the shortage, raising between about $2,500-$3000.

A donation of at least $20 is asked and two major prizes, best hand and worst hand, each will receive $100 and $50 respectfully, he said.\

Registration is from 9-10:30 a.m., with the ride beginning about 11 a.m., he said.

Following the ride, about noon, Garcia said the drill teams will perform for the participants and the public, which is welcome to attend and participate in a raffle at the VFW Post, at 1408 Jonson St.

Students express appreciation

The GHS student commander of the entire JrROTC cadet corps, Evan Henderson, 18, a senior at GHS, said he really appreciates what the community, especially the businesses, do for the program.

“The boys and girls of the JrROTC is like a big family,” he said. “I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.”

Antoinette Lucero, 18, a senior at GHS and who is the unarmed drill team commander, said she joined because her older sister was in the program.

“I wanted to do something different that the athletic programs a the school and this is it.

“We really appreciate what the community does,” she said.
“This (program) is like another home and you can't trade home for anything.” she said.

Information, donations: (505) 285-6013.