‘It really is an honor’ Local drill team to participate in Presidential Inauguration Parade

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE:

A HUGE congrats to Andrew Jackson Flying Lady Tiger Drill Team. See the ladies’ performance below.

President Biden inauguration parade -Andrew Jackson HS Flying Lady Tiger Drill Team

ORIGINAL STORY 1/19/2020:

Some of Jacksonville’s very own high school students are going to be apart of Wednesday’s historic presidential inauguration.

The Andrew Jackson High School Air Force Junior ROTC Flying Lady Tigers Drill Team will be performing in the “Parade Across America,” the virtual portion of Wednesday’s program.

Flying Tigers was the nickname of the 1st American Volunteer Group, which later became the 23 Fighter Group, that operated within the Chinese Air Force before American entry into World War II. As a tribute to these American heroes, their cadet corps wear the group’s patch.

Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole spoke to the director of the program, Trent Johnson, a retired major of the U.S. Air Force, and some of the young ladies on the drill team.

The 20-member team told Cole they competed with a number of schools in the state of Florida to get this special spot!

The Flying Lady Tigers Drill Team is the first all-girls drill team from Andrew Jackson High School to participate in the parade.

“It’s wonderful. You know, we get to participate in something so historical, and so we’re all really proud,” said Hanna Blackstock. She’s a sophomore and second lieutenant in the program.

WHERE TO WATCH: How to watch Joe Biden’s inauguration on Action News Jax

Blackstock told Cole they spent hours drilling and preparing for this moment.

“It was very surreal. We all had a wave of relief come over us that we were selected,” Blackstock told Action News Jax.

The drill team will be featured among performers from communities across the nation to highlight the diversity and heritage of the nation.

“It makes me feel great, like I can do anything, like I don’t have a limit myself and my peers around me,” said Taylor Simmons, a senior and queen of the Miss Air Force Junior ROTC 2020-2021.

Even under the mask he was wearing, Cole could tell Johnson was wearing a big smile, as he told her how excited he was that his girls are getting this opportunity.

“I feel like a proud papa! There’s a lot of young women who are serving in our country, and they do an awesome job as leaders, commanders. And I wanted our young ladies to understand it and experience that,” Johnson said.

Air Force Junior ROTC Unit FL-938 was established at Andrew Jackson High School, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1993. It’s the only Air Force Junior ROTC military-aviation magnet program in the United States.

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Andrew Jacksonv ROTC heading to Presidential Inauguration Parade

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