REMEMBER WHEN.......

I will never forget the thrill I felt the first time I stood in the Armory prior to a parade and ordered a column of companies, leading platoon of A Company, at trail right by squad: “March!” . . . only to be horribly chagrined when Billy Hayes looked up and said, “As you were, Sir. The Band hasn’t moved out.”

I think the feeling was mortified. I got over it, but have never forgotten it—and doubt if I ever will. Oh, well—that was just part of the growing up process. Nate Bushnell ‘39

 We were born, raised, and attended public school in an era when economic times were hard. World War II affected our daily lives, and loyalty to neighborhoods, schools, and friends was a way of life. Even after 68 years, I can still easily identify the time when I set my goal of being a JMHS cadet. In 1941, I lived on Third Avenue in Highland Park.

 One of our neighbors, the Vermillions, had a grandson who lived with them, W. Bryan Stockdon. Bryan was First Captain of the JMHS Corps of Cadets, September 1941-February 1942 term. As an 11 year old, I was totally impressed with this young man resplendent in his uniform with all those stripes and vowed that someday I would be a John Marshall cadet. As somewhat of a postscript, my cadet training and ‘esprit de corps’ served me well when I later went through Marine Corps boot camp at Paris Island in 1948.

Joseph Poleo 2nd Lieutenant Band Feb’47

                                   WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CANNON BALL(s)?

                               By Bob Thurman, ‘F’ Company, Class of 1955

 This article was prompted by a request made at the Annual Meeting. Members were asked if anyone had suggestions for articles for the May issue of the Guidon. Mr. Draucker, Co. B, suggested that some of the younger alumni might shed light on what happened to the cannon ball that was moved to the new John Marshall High School in 1961.

While going through Volume IV of Mr. Loughridge’s The History of The John Marshall Corps of Cadets-1915-1971, I found a copy of a photograph of a cannon ball after it had been moved in 1961 to the new school.

 Jim Walthall’s memorabilia provided two newspaper clip-pings pertaining to the subject. One clipping was a 1961 letter to the editor questioning the whereabouts of the “cannon balls.” The other showed a cadet saluting a cannon ball at the new John Marshall High. Cadets were saluting cannon balls at the old John Marshall as early as 1920. Why? No one seems to know. We have been unable to find any written explanation.

While researching at the Virginia Historical Society in 2008, Phil Leveque, D Co. ’45, discovered that three cannon balls were brought from Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) by Commodore Jesse D. Elliot aboard the USS Constitution. The three cannon balls were delivered to Rockette’s Landing in Richmond in 1828 with in-structions for them to be pre-sented to the University of Virginia. They never got there.

It appears that Henry Moncure had them erected at his residence, which was located at 7th & Marshall Streets in 1833. Later, they were used to mark the boundaries of the Regimental Armory that was built in 1881. The Regimental Armory was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1914 by the Gray’s Armory.

 The Corps’ most revered sentinel was a five-foot hatless granite figure. His weight has been estimated at approximately 1,200 pounds. (He is not going anywhere without assistance). He has guarded the entrance to the old Gray’s Armory, the lawn at the old school and most recently, the northwest corner of the drill field (Alumni Field) at the new school. (Oh, the tales that he could tell about the things he has seen—if only he could talk).

The whereabouts of the sentinel at the present time is unknown. He is missing. Gone AWOL. We would like to have him back. We might find another post for him. If there is anyone out there who may be able to shed some light as to where he might be found, please contact any of the Board members.

Contributed by Stuart Wilkinson F Company 1953