A Ghostly Tradition – VMI Ghost Stories

&emsp;Virginia Military Institute Cadets are incredibly familiar with the traditions of the Institute, passed down from class to class and shared over the centuries, whether it be the much discussed history of drum outs and Room 401, or the New Market Parade in which seniors will leave their shoes on the parade deck in remembrance of the Field of Lost Shoes. While many of the traditions are commonly acknowledged, one of the more hair-raising traditions are the stories of ghosts and their haunting of barracks, something that traces back to the 1900's. While the existence or reality of these stories can't be proven, it's still a pastime in which Cadets frequently indulge, bringing up the latest experiences with the supernatural. &emsp;&emsp;Tales of the Yellow Peril, featuring a ghost with a gash across his face and a yellow pallor to suit his ghostly airs, is one such story most commonly told. Found standing in the corner of the staircase in Old Barracks on Third Stoop, he will follow Cadets back to their rooms in the hopes that they look back at him before he rushes toward them accompanied by a loud screeching. It is said that the penalty of looking back at the Yellow Peril is that he will wake you in your room later that night, standing above you as you sleep in your hay. But the Yellow Peril is not alone in his haunting of barracks as many others accompany him in his mission. The Winter Guard is often found patrolling the Washington Arch side of barracks, fully prepared for his position during the winter months. However, he has been sighted in August and September when the hot Virginia nights are still filled with humidity. Cadets would take care to arrive at their night guard shifts on time or else be woken by a knocking on their door as a Cadet with a lantern will greet them before suddenly disappearing into the night. The catch is that this wasn't a Cadet, and he was never really there... simply another haunted sentinel of VMI (a tradition if you will) that has stood his post even after death. &emsp;&emsp;While many of these may very well be simple stories or illusions of sleep deprivation (an experience common with all Cadets), there are many less substantial experiences which are absent of ghostly figures but are comprised of noises, senses, or shadows. Waking up to the sounds of a bayonet scratching against the wall at 0300 given in series of three or even the sight of shadows passing by a door on an empty stoop during Hell Week are common examples of 'ghost stories' perpetrated by Cadets. Whether dead asleep in your hay at night or surviving the two-hour shift of a night sentinel, it seems that no one is safe from the haunted history of our beloved school. &emsp;&emsp;The reality of these stories is easily challenged from a realistic perspective, but the element of enjoyment remains. There's no harm in the playful spread of 'ghost stories' around barracks to bring feelings of disbelief or certainty, depending on your views of the supernatural. In such a challenging, and often difficult place as VMI, it doesn't hurt to perpetuate exciting experiences with the long-held traditions of barracks hauntings, bringing some lively conversation and maybe a few raised hairs. &emsp;&emsp;Do you have your own ghost stories? Reach out to info@cadetnewspaper.org and send in your experiences with anything you deem a supernatural experience and make your mark on VMI's tradition of ghostly occurrences.