AFJROTC Cadets Brave Gray Skies to Beautify Park Pollinator Garden

Despite the chill in the air and a blanket of gray clouds overhead, eight dedicated Air Force ROTC cadets from Byrnes High School showed their commitment to service by volunteering at Legacy Park on May 27, 2025. Senior Master Sergeant Glenn Sparkman, and a neighbor of the park, organized these students on the first day of their summer vacation to help restore and beautify the community pollinator garden.

Equipped with trowels, rakes, and hoes, the cadets spent several hours digging, planting, and clearing in the cold, damp conditions. Their efforts yielded new ornamental grasses, clean beds for new annuals, and the eradication of unwelcome Bermuda grass in the beds.

While it wasn’t exactly ideal weather, the cadets showed a positive spirit and a genuine interest in learning and giving back to the community.

The volunteer morning, organized by Greenville Parks Recreation and Tourism, in collaboration with the Legacy Park Friends, aims to fulfill one of the non-profit’s chief missions—that of encouraging community volunteerism. The cadets’ contributions brought a much-needed boost to the initiative, and their teamwork and discipline were on full display!

For these young leaders, the project was more than just a chance to volunteer—it was a demonstration of the AFROTC core values: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

We are grateful to Glenn Sparkman and his eight cadets who didn’t let the weather stop them from making a difference.