Introduction

Right before I began my freshman year of high school, my cousin (and friend) asked to me come to a practice for our high school's marching band and color guard. She had been a part of the color guard the previous year was told to recruit new members, so she wanted me to check it out.

I had never heard of color guard - or even knew what it was - so I was very reluctant to go. I started coming up with excuses: I'm tired, I have to clean my room, I have a cold sore, etc etc (if only it had been during the school year, I could have claimed I had homework). Clearly, I was not a fan of the unfamiliar.

So we made a deal.

I would go to the first practice, and if I liked it, I would stay and join. If I didn't like it, I never had to go back again. This sounded fair to me, so I gave it a shot.

It ended of being one of the best chances I have ever taken.

I ended up performing in the color guard for all 4 years in high school, and then went on to perform with a drum and bugle corps for 2 years after that. Color guard became my passion through my late teen years, and as it turns out, I was actually quite good (but I'm not one to brag).

While I am still greatly interested in color guard, I currently am not actively involved the activity, as it has taken a backseat to school and work. I am currently a student at Rowan University studying Elementary Education and Writing Arts, with hopes of graduating in Spring 2011.

For my Writing, Research, and Technology course, we are required to write a blog on the topic of our choice. I saw this as an opportunity to keep my interest in color guard alive and active. Plus, I'm sure there is plenty I don't know about the sport, so this will give me an opportunity to teach and learn simultaneously.

My hope is to feature content about the history of color guard, uses of color guard now and in its early days, and shed some light on a sport that mant people don't know much about - or have misconceptions of. In addition, I hope to include some incredible performances that I feel are worth sharing with the world.

Color guard is a very intriguing sport. If it's not something you want to do yourself, it's still very amazing to watch. Maybe some will have no interest in this whatsoever, but maybe - just maybe - this will make you want to spin that flag.