Corps Salutes New Governor at Inaugural 
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VMI Cadets march past Virginia's new governor, Bob McDonnell.
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LEXINGTON, Va., Jan. 18, 2010 –The Corps of Cadets didn’t let a bottleneck at the entrance to the state Capitol that blocked their route for several minutes prevent them from marching past the reviewing stand to honor Gov. Bob McDonnell on his inauguration day, Jan. 16.
The Corps was the largest and last unit in the parade that travelled down Grace Street in downtown Richmond, into Capitol Square, around the Capitol Building, and back out to waiting buses. The exit from Capitol Square of an earlier unit in the parade caused a several minute break in the parade before the cadets march into view.
With the exception of the Guard Team and in-season athletes, nearly the entire Corps marched in the parade. The Corps required three blocks to form up in companies with six cadets abreast.
Cadet Elizabeth Dobbins, regimental S-5 officer, told a Roanoke television station that the cadets were excited to march and show their support for the new governor.
“He’s our commander-in-chief, so we’re proud to be here,” said Dobbins, who is set to graduate this May and enter the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. “We like to come out here and see the public and represent VMI to the public. “
Twenty-seven buses lined up in front of the Barracks and along Letcher Avenue Saturday to begin loading cadets at about 8 a.m. for the two-and-a-half hour journey to Richmond. The buses arrived at the Corps’ marshalling area nine blocks from Capitol Square shortly before 11a.m. They ate lunches, adjusted their uniforms and formed up into companies for the 1:30 p.m. step-off. The buses arrived back at VMI before 6 p.m.
In addition to the cadets who marched, the VMI Glee Club performed at a pre-inaugural event in the morning, and 80 cadets served as ushers.
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