“Backing the Pirates in all they do” is the motto of the Pirate Crew, a group of students who run down the field with flags every Friday night (usually after touchdowns) with “caring and involved parents” helping behind them.

These parents want to support the students of La Vega ISD in all the things that they do and participate in, while the flag boys help show support and feel the presence of them for Modoc football on Fridays. The Pirate Crew has begun strong by helping with '09-10 powerlifting, track meet concessions, providing snacks for the One-Act Play last year at competition, and the fundraiser for Eric Balch in which the crew donated $500 and helping raised another $1500.

Of all the activities the crew members have done to help other programs, they still have been able to help themselves by purchasing a trailer and covering it with designs and logos for storing football equipment, the "Pete the Pirate" inflatable, the water, doctor supplies, etc. Other than that, their funds have been used for and to save the extra money for future use and other programs.

However, one main problem people may have with the Pirate Crew is the confusion that some people seem to believe that the flag core is called the color guard along with the band and the NJROTC that we see almost every Friday night. The difference is that the actual Pirate Crew is an athletic booster club, and the flags boys are not color guard they are the flag core and are a group the crew brought in to support LV football on Fridays. I hope that we can eliminate any confusion people may have with this and if anyone has any ideas on how to help please let us know.

Adding to that, the flag boys are just a part of the crew, which are transported with the cheerleaders, that the crew brought into the school, and everyone can tell who they are because they carry around huge blue and gold flags and are quite acrobatic.

“I love being a flag boy because I get to be on the field and have fun,” Devin Loge said. Interestingly enough, though the flags have actually been around since before the Pirate Crew existed around 2007, but the crew took them in with their name and program. It used to be just random students from the stands, but now students join to run the flags during games

Another member, Roy Robins, said, “I love being a flag boy and running down the field on Fridays.”

Can you believe that in all the games the flags have participated in that there have not been any mistakes, mishaps, or anything else major like them? The reason why is simple. Wayne Samford said that during the first game that the flags were in, there was a mistake--a flag boy ran into a cheerleader, causing a huge commotion, but from then on everyone has known where the flags are, what they are doing, and when. That is why no one sees any mistakes about the flags.

According to their agenda given out on their meeting on Monday, August 30, the Crew's plans for this year and moving forward are to support the groups and eventually the campuses of LVISD, and secondly, to work in to bring in funds and needs for each group. The crew has taken a step and will continue to try and move forward to help all the programs of La Vega. To help them they have the flag boys, a group the crew brought to La Vega to help out and be a part of the school, but they must maintain at least a 70 average or higher with no major referrals, detentions, or infractions.

Crew sponsor Samford also said that the long-term goal of the crew is a lot of people working together with involvement throughout La Vega ISD on every campus, so that any club that is starting and needs help whether it is monetary or labor can have someone to turn to. What people can infer from this is that he wants this organization to spread and grow to the other district schools of La Vega.

Also, when Samford was asked when he could tell that this could be good thing and that this could be something big? He simply replied that he was a LVHS graduate, and when he looks back at his days of school he saw a lot of separation, and gray spots throughout his years as a student. Even when his children attended the school, every program still had no worry of anything around it except itself. That’s when he could tell that a group of spirited individuals that are willing to break through this wall to fill in the gaps between the programs, and he believes that the crew and the people behind them could be the answer.

Samford also said that parents are welcome to help along with students, teachers, and anyone else interested because the Crew likes to help with the other school clubs, not just flags. Also, to be a member does not cost a dime; all they need is supporters that believe in what they are doing and will back them up. To be members, people does not have to work, hand out flyers, or do any physical labor, but can voice their opinions if they believe they should focus elsewhere or work on something else. He wishes to see a day when all the schools are working together and helping them by giving anyone a chance to flourish, to help for the future.

The Crew has high hopes to succeed in what it wants to accomplish and at this moment, but cannot help due to lack of sufficient funds, but will be glad to help if labor or workers are needed. An example of this is that next year's homecoming parade committee may need help with floats, and the Pirate Crew may not be able to help with money to buy supplies, but will help in constructing, moving, and dismantling the float after it is done.

Now all of the sponsors agree that “The sky is the limit to what we can accomplish.” And if anyone is wondering why the group is called the Pirate Crew, Wayne Samford and the others will tell you, “There can only be one captain, but it takes a crew to row a ship.”