ARLINGTON — When Arlington had its Fourth of July parade, spectators probably were surprised see Halloween-themed zombie cadets lurching along Olympic Avenue.
The unique parade entry, and the haunted house attraction that will return this fall, were the brainchild of Jacquelyn Murray, a senior at Arlington High School who wants to see its Air Force Junior ROTC program continue long after she’s gone.
Murray explained that the zombie cadets and the haunted house were inspired by the need to shore up the JROTC’s numbers.
“Last year, we found out our program was falling short in recruits, and our program faced the risk of disappearing from the school completely if we didn’t start getting a certain number of people,” Murray said.
Murray and her family came up with the idea to stage a haunted house at her dad’s business, with her fellow cadets sending people through and serving them hot cocoa. The event proved popular enough to bring back, with a number of Murray’s peers asking if they could be involved next time. This fall will see the cadets step in as performers in the haunted house.
“When people hear JROTC, they think of us as the kids who wear uniforms every Wednesday,” Murray said. “They think JROTC is all military, no fun.”
Although Murray joined JROTC as a freshman because it offered science credits, “and aviation sounded more interesting than rocks and minerals,” she acknowledged that not every kid will be as interested in learning about flight and developing leadership skills as she was.
“We need something that will turn their heads,” Murray said. “So come join JROTC, that does a haunted house every year. We march in the Fourth of July parade and dress up like zombies. Our Color Guard team has performed at Safeco Field, in front of the Mariners. This is what we do, and it’s fun.”
Indeed, the zombies were devised as a means of promoting the lighter side of JROTC, and getting the word out about those activities.
“I think my instructors thought I was being a little overly ambitious when I brought up marching in the Fourth of July parade,” Murray said. “I know they thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to dress them up like zombies. Even some other cadets thought I was losing my marbles.”
Maj. Mike Blue and Master Sgt. Alvin Moore, her JROTC instructors, nonetheless gave her the go-ahead. Murray’s parents contributed by paying cadets $10 an hour for yard work, with those funds going toward construction of a parade float. Of the $570 the cadets earned, $447 went toward the float, while the remaining $123 was set aside for the haunted house.
“All of the cadets that participated worked really hard,” Murray said. “They gave up a lot of Saturday afternoons to work on the float and the routine for our ‘Thriller’ dance.”
Not only did 25 zombie cadets shuffle down Arlington’s main street, but 2nd Lt. Colton McCoy, an AHS graduate, stepped in to serve as their “zombie drill sergeant.”
“I thought that we were just trying to get the word out about our program, but when they came out and showed us the first-place ribbon, I almost started crying,” Murray said. “I was so proud of everyone.”
While Murray doesn’t know yet how this will impact the JROTC’s membership numbers this year, she expressed hope that younger cadets will continue entering the parade.
“I don’t want this to fizzle out,” Murray said. “This year, I’ll be training one of the cadets how to make arrangements for the float. My family’s business is more than happy to help JROTC raise money for it.”
What began as a substitute for science class for Murray has become a crucible for her personal growth, and she believes strongly in sharing that opportunity.
“The influences that the older cadets set for me were incredible,” Murray said. “It made me want to do better and always try my best. What’s kept me in is the desire to set the same good example for the cadets following me. You learn so much, and you make such great friends.”
