Van Horn JROTC Carries the Colors Before Royals AL Central Clinching Win

What ended as an exciting night for more than 32,000 fans inside Kauffman Stadium started as an exciting night for four Van Horn High School Army JROTC cadets. Taking part in the pregame festivities, the Van Horn contingent presented the colors before the Royals 10-4 win over the Seattle Mariners, clinching the Royals first division title in 30 years.

“There was a lot of excitement in the stadium, given the circumstances,” said retired Lt. Col. Mike Byrd, Van Horn’s senior JROTC instructor “but I can tell you, no one, individually, was probably more excited than each of our cadets.”

Emerging from an area near the Royals dugout, the cadets, accompanied by 1st Sgt. Allen Roberson, marched in unison with the American and Missouri flags in hand and stood near second base as the National Anthem was played. Making the impressive display even more impressive- the cadets had to channel their inner Wade Davis, getting the late inning call just three days before the game.

“They knew there was a possibility we could get called and once we did, we were excited and ready,” Roberson said.

Cadets presenting the colors were David Knouse, Jessica Kingerly and Hayli Sweigart under the command of Cadet David Chappa.