Football teams practicing
Marching bands creating formations while color guard throws their rifles and carries their silks. And every Tuesday evening or Saturday finds stadiums filled with marching bands from near and far along with family and friends to cheer them on to victory.
Today was one such Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho. American Fork, Utah Marching Cavemen took 1st place. They usually do. They are good. No, they are better than good- they are one of the best at what they do. They work hard and long and perfect and hone their craft long after others would have quit.
I have watched them drill before a competition and it never ceases to impress and amaze me. It is no wonder they marched in the Macey's Thanksgiving day parade. And the Inaguration of George W. Bush. And always take 1st place in almost every competition.
But tonight. Tonight I am sitting here stunned. Saddened. In shock and despair. The one thing that every single parent of a marching band member dreads happened tonight to the AF Marching Band as they made their way home, high with the thrill of victory and a job well performed.
On the way home, one of their 4 buses rolled, killing one adult staff member. 12 students were life flighted to a hospital and others were put on a bus to go to a hospital to be treated for wounds. A couple of them were trapped in the bus for a couple of hours before they were able to get them out.
Prayers for all members of the band, their families, the family of the instructor killed.
This touches all of us involved in marching band, because whether we march against a band or not, we are all one big family and pull for and cheer for each other.
AF Marching Cavemen,
May you soon take the field in competition.
Indeed.
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