Published 11:20 am Thursday, May 28, 2026 The National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., was huge — and one of the many participants were cadets from Central Oregon. “It was the biggest parade we have ever marched in,” Scott Svoboda, Crook County High School NJROTC program’s senior naval science instructor, gushed. “Bands and groups from all over the country were there. It was massive.” The Crook County program joined two others from region — Mountain View and La Pine high schools. About 100 students from the region attended and participated in the parade, 39 of whom were from Crook County. The parade served as the culmination of a five-day adventure in the nation’s capital as well as a mighty fundraising effort that the cadets kicked off 10 months prior. “Our portion alone was $100,000, and all we asked the cadets to contribute was $500 each,” Svoboda said. “The community really rallied.” The journey started Wednesday before Memorial Day.…