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The Graduation Parade is the exact opposite of the plebe Acceptance Day parade. You'll recall, when our New Cadets finished Beast, there was an Acceptance Parade to officially end Beast. The plebes all marched out on the Plain and lined up in a line in front of the bleachers while the other three classes of the Corps lined up in their regular formations on the other side of the Plain. The cadet officer in charge of Beast then loudly announced that the New Cadets had successfully completed Beast and requested to be formally accepted into the Corps. The Supe then said that the request was granted and then announced that the plebes were formally accepted into the Corps as full cadets. An order was then given, and the line of plebes all marched across the Plain and joined and formed up in their respective academic companies. At Graduation Parade, the exact opposite happens. The full Corps lines up in formation in their regular positions. The band then salutes the firsties by parading back and forth the full length of the assembled Corps, playing Auld Lang Syne. Very emotional. An order is then given and all of the firsties step out from their company formations and in a long line the length of the Corps. They march away from the Corps, across the Plain, and form up in a long line in front of the bleachers. The three remaining classes then salute the graduating firsties by parading by them with the firsties serving as the reviewing party. Later in the day, there is a reception in the Supe's garden for the graduates and their families. The next day the formal Graduation Ceremony is held at Michie Stadium, with the three other classes sitting in the top section of the stadium above the parent section.
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