South-Doyle JROTC to represent Tennessee in National Memorial Day Parade

South-Doyle JROTC has been selected to represent the state of Tennessee in the 2026 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., an honor reserved for only a small number of units across the country.

Over Memorial Day weekend, cadets will march down Constitution Avenue alongside more than 5,000 participants in front of an anticipated crowd of 300,000 spectators. The trip will also include visits to historic landmarks and a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

For the students involved, the opportunity feels both surreal and deeply meaningful.

“It’s insanely monumental to me,” said Cadet Lt. Col. Johnathan Alvarez, battalion commander. “My goal as a leader has always been to leave a legacy for future cadets, and this is something we’ve all worked incredibly hard for.”

Cadet Maj. Genniveve Cato, battalion executive officer, said being part of the nation’s 250th anniversary makes the experience even more meaningful.

“A lot of people can say they’ve marched in a parade,” she said. “But only this group gets to say they represented Tennessee during the country’s 250th anniversary celebration.”

South-Doyle JROTC, under the direction of Senior Army Instructor MAJ(R) Marcus Vartan, was selected in part because of its extraordinary commitment to service and leadership both in and out of the classroom. In 2021, the battalion set a national record by retiring more than 6,000 American flags, while the program also maintains high rates of cadets earning ROTC scholarships or continuing into military service after graduation.

SSG Juan Alvarez, Army Instructor and a South-Doyle graduate and former cadet himself, said the recognition reflects years of dedication, leadership, and service from students.

“Being able to take my unit in my first year to represent not only the school, but the state, is truly inspirational to me,” he said. “For many of these cadets, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience our nation’s history firsthand while honoring those who served before them.”

Students also helped raise nearly $50,000 to make the trip possible, with generous support from community sponsors and donors helping ensure every cadet could attend at no cost.

“We’ve had so many people support us along the way, from sponsors and donors to the cadets themselves putting in countless hours of fundraising,” said Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Ayden Foster. “Seeing all of that hard work come together and knowing we now get to represent Tennessee and Knox County on a national stage is incredible!”