The wrecking balls have come to 1611 N. 31st St. in the East End, the site of Armstrong High School since 1952.

For me, Armstrong High School holds so many pleasant memories. This is where I taught 12 Government and Economics when I did my cadet teaching in 1970. Maxie Robinson Sr. was the basketball coach at the time and taught history. Many of the faculty members at the time went on to become leaders in education in Richmond, including Lucille Brown, who went on to become superintendent of Richmond Public Schools and who now has a middle school named in her honor.

The school also has many outstanding alumni, including former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, who was once the first African-American to command a Navy ship.

The Armstrong name is now on the building at 2300 Cool Lane that was once John F. Kennedy High School.

While the name of Armstrong has not changed, the “rose garden” has been rotated. By that, I mean the rose garden represents Armstrong High School and the roses represent students at Armstrong.

There are approximately 1,000 roses in the garden, some of which failed to bloom during the past academic year.

Armstrong welcomes volunteers. I am requesting that people, including alumni, serve as mentors for the 2017-18 academic year.

I cannot promise you that this will be an easy task. You may have to weed, prune and water not just your rose but other roses that have begun to droop.

As alumni, you can make a difference by taking the road less traveled.

MARVIN CURTIS JONES SR.

Mechanicsville