Lining the floor of the store, students sat with their friends, played games, and even started doing their homework as rain pummeled outside. Elisha Casarrubias, a senior and a worker at Safeway stated that this was the most packed and chaotic the store had ever been. He also made sure to mention his relief that our students were respectful of the store and its customers.
This was the scene on the evening of September 25. Before this, the homecoming parade started like normal; floats setting up, students gathering together, and convertibles pulling up to the event. The event requires advanced planning, with several local streets closed to drivers, so the event was to be held rain or shine. Everyone was ready to march, even in the rain. This quickly changed as a tornado warning and sudden rainstorm hit the Leesburg area, forcing students to evacuate from the parking lot into the attached Safeway.
There, many students gathered around the windows looking out at the rain, a majority of whom were part of NJROTC. Jordan Bruce, a member of the NJROTC Armed Exhibition drill team, was in the store while these events occurred.
“Chaos was happening all around us but because of me and my friends, the NJROTC students stayed orderly,” Bruce said, a claim backed up by Casarrubias who commented on how established and polite they were.
Once the rain ended, students emerged from the store with new energy, excited to continue the parade. A rainbow had also formed, creating a beautiful atmosphere for the delayed event.
Marketing teacher Schyuler Henderson said he was happy they were finally free to get the parade going, and that the flexibility and commitment of the students really made a difference. Many students could be spotted handing out candy and gifts to kids on the sidewalk, which really summed the day up, as not only adventurous but successful.
“Neither rain nor a tornado warning could stop the Captains from celebrating,” said student activities coordinator Crystal Wolfgang. •
