College students, staff form all-female color guard

An accomplishment that was considered “long overdue” by one of the primary parties involved became a reality this summer in Kirtland, Ohio. Six members of Lakeland Community College’s faculty and student body – all Legionnaires – came together to form an all-female color guard.

Its organizer, Lakeland’s Veterans Center manager S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, believes the color guard is the first all-female American Legion color guard in the state. The color guard was originally scheduled to make its debut July 1 at the Lake County Captains’ minor league baseball game at Classic Park in Eastlake, but the game was rained out before it was time to present the colors of the nation.

“We were so excited and inspired so many women,” said Osagie-Erese, a member of American Legion Post 214 in Willoughby, Ohio and a U.S. Army veteran. “We didn’t even realize how important it was. There were so many female veterans that came up to us and wanted to take pictures and came out to the game. It was long overdue.”

Osagie-Erese said the suggestion for an all-female color guard came from Dennis Brandt, the post officer for Barber Williams American Legion Post 609 in Kirtland. She then put out a call to area Legion posts and other veterans groups to find volunteers for the color guard. Three of the six are Lakeland CC staff, while the other three were students. All six also are Student Veterans of America members, while three are also a part of Team Red, White & Blue.

In addition to Osage-Erese, the other members are Color Guard Commander Barb Mancari, Lexi Stokes, Christine Young, Shirley Graves and Danielle Lewis. Lakeland CC bought the uniforms for the color guard, while Post 609 offered the use of its flags and equipment.

“They practiced for weeks and joined (The American Legion) just to be a part of this,” Osagie-Erese said, adding that Post 609’s offer of the use of its colors and equipment was critical in the formation of the color guard. “Without the gear, it probably wouldn’t have been possible,” she said. “And also their support – Dennis Brandt again and … Lake County Commander Bill Dittebrand, they were both big supporters of this. And they’re known in the veteran community, so having their endorsement really helped. It helped galvanize the group.”

The color guard is tentatively scheduled to present the colors at an event in late August. “And then if there are other groups or affiliations that need a color guard, as long as we can borrow the colors, we’re ready,” said Osagie-Erese, who hopes the all-female color guard will help dispel the stereotype that she feels many have about the image of a veteran.

“As many times as we see female veterans on TV or whatever, people still have this image of a veteran as a young, handsome, white male, which is wonderful,” she said. “But that’s not the whole story. There are women. There are people of color.”