”
They fought the longest war in American history,
”
blares from the boom box as the ’60s soundtrack begins to play,
and strains of the National Anthem can be heard.
“They fought the longest war in American history,” blares from the boom box as the ’60s soundtrack begins to play, and strains of the National Anthem can be heard. Fifteen students stand at attention wearing fatigues, dog tags and black gloves, shirts and shoes, with bandannas tied around their heads.
“There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear … What’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down,” Buffalo Springfield sings as a young man leaves for Vietnam with congratulations ringing in his ears. White flags and rifles flip into the air, whirling end over end, caught back in the performers’ hands with sharp slaps.
This is Gilroy High School’s Winter Color Guard, both acting out a story and paying tribute to Vietnam War Veterans as they compete in regional competition, where they made the finals for the first time in several years.
“War, what is it good for?” is the music playing as the teens move in a synchronized action sequence, red flags forming patterns in the air as they incorporate balletic dance steps with combat moves in perfect precision.
The Color Guard performs with the Marching Band during football season, but in order to extend their season and keep training, the Winter Guard competes with other Winter Guard groups through April. These teens train Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from either 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It is a cardiovascular workout, with step kicks, runs, jumps and lunges across the gym floor.
But it’s not just about dance moves or athleticism. It’s about gracefully handling sabers, rifles and flags at the same time. As one t-shirt logo reads at competition, “If you think dancing is hard, try adding equipment.”
“It ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one,” Creedence Clearwater Revival sings as the reality of the war takes its toll on the once-idealistic soldier portrayed in the Winter Guard’s storyline.
Push-ups and sit-ups are a big part of their workout, and when mistakes are made or discipline sags among the team, they are required to do a set of 10 push-ups for every error. “Isn’t that a little harsh?” I ask the Guards.
“No,” they tell me. “It works; it teaches discipline and brings about more unity.” The Winter Guard is composed of students with a diversity of size, shape, sex and ethnicity all working as one towards a common goal. “It is a place where everyone accepts you the way you are,” said first season Guard Cambri Love.
Students say that being in the Winter Guard is a great way to de-stress after a tough day; they find that the workout has a therapeutic effect. With all the peer pressure in high school, being a part of a group like this is the kind of activity that makes taking drugs or participating in more dangerous activities unnecessary.
As the war comes to an end, smiling students perform with yellow flags to Hair’s “Let the Sunshine In.” The practice the Winter Guard does all season to perfect this routine really pays off. In their home show, they took second place out of four.
Members of the Winter Guard can continue their activity. Many colleges have Color Guard programs for those who wish to continue participating after high school.
The one remaining bias negatively affecting Gilroy’s Winter Guard is that while participants are considered members of the Marching Band, only the actual musicians in the Marching Band get P.E. credit. The Winter Guard does not, in spite of its requirement of a high level of fitness from every member. As Love expressed it, “It really bothers me that it’s not recognized as a sport.”
This is something that needs to be changed.
“They fought the longest war in American history,” are the words spoken as the show returns to its beginning theme. “Although they were all decorated for heroism, none of them received a hero’s welcome.”
The soldier who returns home is not the same boy who went off to war; shell-shocked and disillusioned, he walks out of formation with his head bowed.
Senior Mallory Adams, who has been a dedicated Guard all four years of high school, spoke of the reaction audiences have had to the material this season: “It affected a lot of people. There were people in the audience moved to tears.”
Winter Guard International describes what they do as “the sport of the arts.”
It’s about time Gilroy High’s Winter Guard receives the recognition it deserves for its high level of performance, discipline and sportsmanship.
