Those who gathered on the Goldsboro High School JROTC pad Friday weren’t just there for the hamburgers dusted with a secret seasoning blend, the nostalgic music or the chance to cheer on the blue and gold.
They were there to see old friends, to travel down Memory Lane and to remind themselves that being a GHS alumnus is about being part of something bigger than the shared experience of turning of a graduation tassel.
They were there to see family — people they might not talk to every day, but whose contributions to their lives made an impact, and still do.
They know being part of Goldsboro High School — and a legacy that crosses generations — is a gift. And they understand that it is a responsibility, too, to carry on the traditions, the achievements and the pride.
So, they spent the evening trading stories, eating great food and busting a move. They talked about the good times and how far they have come. And they fed the current generation of Cougars — ensuring they didn’t miss a chance to pass along words of wisdom to the young men and women they extended plates to.
Giving back and coming back — it is what you do when you realize that one of the most important lessons you learn as an adult is to remember where you came from. That’s why that blue and gold still means so much.
And what made it more special was that they understood that home is more than the place you hang your hat.
It’s the feeling you get when you embrace someone you haven’t seen in decades.
It’s the sound of laughs shared beside grills and under tents.
It’s the sense of duty to continue the mission of making GHS a better place.
So when, hours later, the rains came and the Cougars’ big game was postponed, it wasn’t surprising that there weren’t too many long faces among those who had been together since long before the sun went down.
They knew the night was about more than football.
It was about rekindling old friendships and forging new ones.
It was about showing the community just how strong the GHS bond really is.
And it was an opportunity to remind future Cougar grads just how lucky they are to share a home with all those who came before them.
And no storm could wash that away.
