Aldine ISD’s JROTC Programs Honor Franklin Higgins

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During his tenure as Director of Career and Technical Education, Franklin Higgins has been a strong supporter of the district’s JROTC programs at the district’s five traditional high schools.

All five of the programs thanked him for his support when they surprised him recently with the Order of the Sword ceremony, held in the lobby of the Bamberg Professional Development and Resource Center.

Lt. Col. Porfirio Munoz, the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Davis High School, presided over the ceremony.

“Today, we are represented by instructors and cadet leaders of the five Aldine ISD JROTC programs. This is not only a demonstration of our program’s appreciation of Mr. Higgins’ support to JROTC but also an induction ceremony for our adaption of one of the oldest military awards, the Order of the Sword,” Porfirio said.

Porfirio said the Order of the Sword dates back to the early 12^th Century when King Gustave I of Sweden enjoined the noblemen commissioned to him (known as officers today) to appoint other officers to serve them. Those people became the noncommissioned officers, as they are known today. Porfirio explained that they were accountants, builders, craftsmen, teachers, and other leaders responsible for conducting the daily affairs of the kingdom.

That system worked so well that it was incorporated in the Army to establish and maintain a cohesive, disciplined, and well-trained force to protect lives and property in the kingdom. The ancient noncommissioned officers would, on occasion, honor a leader and pledge their loyalty by ceremoniously presenting that individual with a sword. The sword, a symbol of truth, justice, and power rightfully used, served as a token for all to see and know that there was a leader among leaders and man among men.

This ceremony became known as the “The Royal Order of the Sword.” It came to the United States around the Revolutionary War, Porfirio said. It was dormant for many years, with the only known instance of its use being in the 1860s when General Robert E. Lee was presented a sword by his command.

The ceremony has been revived, updated, and adopted by the noncommissioned officers and now by Aldine ISD JROTC cadet corps as their method for paying tribute to individuals they hold in the highest regard.

Higgins was moved by the surprise ceremony and was thankful to the JROTC cadets for their kind gesture.

“The honor the JROTC cadets bestowed upon me left me speechless,” Higgins said. “I am thankful for this honor. It has been a blessing to work with each of the JROTC programs. The program has provided excellent leadership for our students throughout the years. Our JROTC students have competed in drill meets on the local, state, and national levels. I am proud to have worked with men and women who have served our country and now continue working with our students. This is a great honor and one of the highest honors one can receive, and I am so grateful.”