The community of Aledo, located on Il. Rt. 17 at Il. Rt. 94 about 20 miles south of Moline, and Mercer County
have had a military presence since the War of 1812. The U.S. Government plotted a Military Tract for use for payment to volunteer
soldiers who served. Decendents of those may have attended the William and Vashti College prior to the Great War (World War
I). After the war, the college closed down and it was taken over by a unit from Osewgo, Kansas. The Illinois Military
School was formed in 1924, but went bankrupt during the Great Depression.
The Academy re-opened under the name Roosevelt Military Academy. It prepped up students who wold go
on to serve in World War II, the Korean War, and later the Vietnam War.
Here is an example of what student life was at the Academy:
6:30 a.m. - First call
6:40 a.m. - Reveille and setting-up exercises
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast
7:45 a.m. - Inspection of quarters
8:00 a.m. - Chapel execrises
8:05 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Classes and study
11:30 a.m. - Physical drill
12:00 noon - Lunch
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Classes and study
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. - Military drill
4:00 p.m. - Athletics and recreation
6:00 p.m. - Supper
6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. - Study period
8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. - Recreation
9:15 p.m. - Call to quarters
9:30 p.m. - Taps
When the Vietnam War hit in the late 1960's, the school was faced with pressure from activists who were against
military academies. Roosevelt Military Academy closed it's doors in 1973 and it's buildings have remained dormant ever since.
An excellent website, which covers the history of the Roosevelt Military Academy including current alumni events,
is found at the following web address:
The website was brought to our attention by Bob Fritz, RMA Class of '65. Bob is the President of the Roosevelt
Military Academy Rough Rider Association. One fair warning though, if you plan to visit the
site set aside some extra time for yourself, you will be there awhile!
Also, special thanks to Dick Larke
for providing most of the photos on this page.
![aledoma2.jpg](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=560&linkpath=http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/aledoma2.jpg&target=tlx_new&title="The Megaphone")
