By Cadet Capt. Emily Nobles, Public Affairs Officer
Two cadets from Natchitoches Central High School JROTC Program teamed up with two JROTC cadets from North DeSoto High School to form a joint color guard to present the Colors at the SSG Richard L. Vazquez Memorial Highway Dedication Ceremony Aug. 6 at the DeSoto Parish Courthouse Lawn in Mansfield.
SSG Richard L. Vazquez was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and died in Kandahar of wounds Nov. 13, 2013, when his unit was attacked with an IED while on dismounted patrol in Panjwai. He was on this third tour in Afghanistan.
Cadet Lt. Col. Aaliyah Edmonson and Cadet Capt. Aerial Smith from NCHS JROTC formed the joint color guard with Cadet 2nd Lt. Kolton Martinez and Cadet PFC Cory Vines from North DeSoto High School JROTC. Edmonson said, “It was an honor and a privilege to participate in the dedication ceremony for an American hero.”