By Mary Jane Pitt
All anyone wondering what the commotion was about on Main Street in Highland Falls on Thursday, Oct. 17 had to do was take a look at the colors people were wearing.
It was a sea of maroon and white, with a little black and occasional gold, tossed in. Those are the colors of O’Neill High School’s athletic teams, and the occasion was the annual Homecoming Parade. It started at West Point’s Buffalo Soldier Field at 5 p.m. and concluded – after a boisterous pep rally – at just about 6 p.m.
Local fire and police departments participated in the event, drawing attention to the JV and varsity athletes who marched. The teams were with their coaches and school officials and cheered on by community residents who first lined the street and then made their way to the municipal parking lot across from Sacred Heart Church.
There, the O’Neill JROTC provided a Color Guard – they had, in fact, led the parade – while students, many of them athletes, sang the National Anthem.
The parade and pep rally are hosted annually by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Council; members of which took a few minutes to thank local sponsors of not only the parade, but supporters of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District’s athletic programs. Also briefly speaking was O’Neill Assistant Principal Thomas Breitfeller, who wished all the athletes good luck in not only the rest of this season, but the rest of the school year.
Serving as MC for the pep rally was the parade grand marshal – longtime O’Neill instrumental music teacher Tom Cunane. Cunane also runs the school’s tech crew, which has, for the past four years, provided announcing and music for many athletic contests. Cunane called it a privilege to do so, and said he’s enjoyed meeting and spending time with student athletes that he previously didn’t always get to know.
Cunane introduced captains from all of the varsity teams to speak about their accomplishments so far this Fall sports season, and also directed the crowd’s attention to the varsity cheerleaders for two short performances.
It was a busy week, after school hours, for local students. Friday evening was the varsity football game, and then most students attended the Homecoming dance at the high school on Saturday evening.