Marines Wow Ramona High Students in Battle Guard Ceremony

In the hot valley sun and in front of the Ramona High Bulldog student body, the United States Marine Corps performed flawlessly in their Battle Color Detachment Ceremony Wednesday morning.

Ramona High Principal Tony Newman told Patch he was excited to be hosting the group for the second time.

"This is an opportunity for our kids to see a first class organization and see a group perform at their highest level in what they do," Newman said. "I think it's wonderful."

The ceremony included a Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon—a 24-man rifle platoon that performs a unique precision drill exhibition, a press release stated.

The Battle Color ceremony at Ramona High also featured the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Marine Corps Color Guard.

The special ceremony was hosted by Ramona High School four years ago, but a last-minute testing at another San Diego school originally set to host this year provided opportunity for the local high school to host it again, according to Lt. Commander Mike Ernst, a senior naval science director who heads the Junior ROTC program at Ramona High.

"This is the second time we've done it, but it never gets old," Ernst said. "I think it's important because it shows some of America's youth world-class performance level. It gives something for the kids to look to to inspire them."

The ceremony lasted about an hour and district Superintendent Dr. Robert Graeff issued a statement on the well-behaved audience during the rather warm performance, noting how "superbly [Newman's] student body conducted themselves during the ceremony."

"For more than 45 minutes in very hot sun, more than 1,500 RHS students sat respectfully and showed appropriate appreciation for the Marines and their fellow Americans," Graeff stated.

Ernst's students in the NRJTOC program also sat respectfully, watching future versions of themselves.

"If you can witness a great organization, why not take a chance?" Ernst said.

Check out the videos and photos above from the ceremony today. Patch would like to thank all the service men and women who came out to Ramona today.