Strike Eagles Honor Guard of the Air Force ROTC from Worcester Polytechnic Institute Present Colors at Performance

Under the command of Cadet Major Jason Gabriel, the Strike Eagles Honor Guard of AFROTC Detachment 340, Worcester Polytechnic Institute marched into Mechanics Hall, presenting the colors for a performance by the Band of the Irish Guards and the Pipes, Drums, & highland dancers of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The audience in Mechanics Hall rose to their feet in appreciation as the student cadets marched crisply down the aisle in formation, leading in the two British regimental bands.

The cadets who participated on Wednesday evening, January 27, 2010, were Cadet Major Jason Gabriel, Cadet 3rd Class Andrew Mackenzie, Cadet 3rd Class Christopher Wyant, Cadet 4th Class Sean Gile, and Cadet 4th Class Kimberly Maciejczyk. 

The evening's program was called "Hands Across The Sea", featuring the music of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.  Music also included a tribute to the American Armed Forces, and veterans in the audience were invited to stand as their anthems were played.  The rest of the audience cheered enthusiastically.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an amalgamation in the 1800s of two distinguished Scottish Regiments and is an active UK military unit, and served in Iraq, Bosnia, Belize, Kenya, and Afghanistan, working closely with the U.S.Marine Corps.

The Irish Guards were formed in 1900 by Queen Victoria to commemorate the many Irish Regiments who had fought in the South African campaigns.  The regimental band was formed at the same time.