Hopi JROTC attends Native American Day in Maricopa County

On Nov. 6, the Hopi High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Honor Guard and Drill Team attended the celebration of Native American Veterans throughout Maricopa County. The event was a one day celebration for the Native American Veterans, which include the array of entertainment, guest speakers, Honor Guards, exhibits, arts and crafts vendors and music.

The Hopi JROTC Honor Guard posted colors along with four other Honor Guards. The Hopi JROTC Drill Team did a Free-Styled performance, which pertained the basic marching, and commands. They performed it for the veterans, vendors, and by passers.

The events started at 11:30 am but the JROTC arrived earlier to get a comfortable feel on how they would perform and practiced. The Hopi JROTC Honor Guard rifle barriers were Cadet Private First Class Ashley Kyayousie and Cadet Private First Class Gabriella Tovar. Cadet Private First Class Onaneilda Begay carried the National Flag, the Arizona State Flag was carried by Cadet Private First Class Lorencita Qumyintewa, the Hopi Flag was carried by Cadet Major Whitney Damgaard, and the Navajo Flag was carried by Cadet Private First Class Brandi Navenma. The Honor Guard Captain Cadet 1st Lieutenant Candice Tso called cadence and commands. The Hopi Honor Guard was followed by Ira H. Hayes Honor Guard, who then was followed by 1st Nations Honor Guard, and then followed by Borrego Pass School Honor Guard.

The Hopi High School JROTC Drill Team performed before the main event started inside the Board of Supervisors Auditorium. They performed outside in the commons area where everybody else was selling and performers were dancing. They did regular drill downs, and performed the regular drill commands. They did a good job and performed very well.

"They did a good job. It was fun watching the Honor Guard post colors and watching the Drill Team performance," said Hopi Bruin Battalion Commander Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Dominique Halwood.

They did a splendid job and they do receive a lot of requests from the JROTC program to do different kinds of community services and performances.