3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Events

Top Gun: Dangerzone Theme Song

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Something a little extra for your listening enjoyment. The music Danger Zone from Top Gun. Both my son and daughter play in the Elmwood-Murdock High School band and tonight was their annual fundraiser.

Over 600 people attended the spaghetti dinner and listened to the various bands from the elementary, junior high, jazz band and high school band. Jen plays percussion, in this song the timpani, which is awesome! My senior plays the trumpet.

If you have been following this blog you might remember that both communities together have a population of about 1000 people, so to say we had a good turnout is an understatement. A lot of this is due to our band director Michael Hanson. When he arrived the band had dwindled from a strong group of over 60 students to the low twenties. In just a few years his leadership has encouraged students to once again pursue music and strive to be the best.

During the fall the students compete in marching band competitions including the Apple Jack Festival (1st place the past three years) and in 2010 won 1st place in their division and third overall at the Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island Nebraska. This festival hosts over 100 high school marching bands  in one of the oldest high school marching band competitions in the Midwest, now going on 70 years.

Last year they were invited to march in the Washington DC, Memorial Day parade. It was quite the experience.

More videos on the band and choir can be viewed on my YouTube Channel, including their other piece The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, A Symphonic Suite

Day 54/365: BOCH Music Festival

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Day 54: Honor Choir, Band and Orchestra

I’m taking some time out to be a Mom. My son sang in last weekends Honor Choir during the BOCH Festival. This stands for the Honor Band, Orchestra, and Choir at the Holland Center Festival, which was held in Omaha Nebraska Sunday February 22, 2011. He is a senior in high school and sings Bass II. He is right of middle, in a white shirt and tie. You can see him can’t you?

Only last year did he even begin to start participating in honor choirs and events. It wasn’t for a lack of talent.  Mrs. Colbert, his choir director, had been begging him to audition for years. Now he has the bug and has two more honor choir concerts in the next three weeks. Maybe it was singing at Carnegie Hall last year that did the trick. Whatever it was I’m enjoying it immensely.

Students were selected by audition and chosen from hundreds of students across the state and even some from Minnesota and Missouri. It’s quite an honor. Hence the name Honor Choir. Only two whole days were spent practicing their music, but remember, these are the most talented voices in the state. They were long days, singing for six hours a day and only one piece was in English. (just why do they do that?) But the result was simply wonderful!

Elmwood-Murdock high school had 15 students accepted into the choir, half in the Women’s Chorus and the other half in the Mixed Chorus. The photo above is bother choirs combined for the final number performed with the band and orchestra. America the Beautiful.

When the audio selections are made available I will post them for your listening enjoyment. For now, just call me a proud Mom. Yeah, he’s going to hate this post if he finds it, but at least I didn’t give his name.

Veterans Day 2010

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As a new Mother of a Marine, my thoughts take a different turn on Veterans Day.  I think it’s because it’s now close to home and I find myself worrying in advance of what lies ahead. The potential of the biggest sacrifice that can be made for our country is now personal. It’s my sons. Yes, plural. My youngest son, still in high school decided that the United States Marine Corps is his calling.

Memories of my Father are particularly strong now. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korea Conflict. He never spoke of  war, not that I can remember, and his service papers were lost when we arrived home on New Years at Times Square.  So, I have sent to the National Personnel Records Center for his service records to share with his grandchildren. 

I’m also thankful for living in small town community with Midwestern traditions. Unlike other parts of the country, our schools take time to honor our veterans by inviting them to the school and honoring them with celebrations. I attended two such programs today, one at the high school and the other at the elementary.

Lieutenant Colonel Rick Gray was the speaker from the Nebraska National Guard. The choir and band sang and played in honor of those who bravely served in the armed forces past and present. It was very moving to listen to over 125 elementary children sing “Bless Our Troops”.  It’s something I won’t forget anytime soon.

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Memorial Day Parade, Washington DC

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The students from Elmwood-Murdock High School march down Constitution Avenue in Washington DC for a once in a lifetime event they will never forget. They received the invitation because of the numerous awards they had won in marching band competitions such as Harvest of Harmony.

Record temperatures were recorded in Washington DC that weekend, and the black uniforms made it a challenge for the kids, but they endured over an hour of marching like troopers. Again, congratulations to everyone. For more information and pictures visit my original post on the Washington DC trip.

Memorial Day Weekend in Washington DC

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Memorial Day weekend is special in any part of the country, but Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC is something not to be missed. The patriotism and overwhelming sense of pride and country as Americans gather to honor our military veterans who died fighting for freedom and liberty brings a tear to your eye as you wreaths are placed at every memorial.

Vietnam War Memorial- Memorial Day 2010

Whoever says that small schools don’t give their students opportunities that bigger schools can offer has never heard of Elmwood-Murdock High School. Our whole school district, K-12 has only 403 students, and an average graduating class of 36 kids. But this has not held them back.

Elmwood Murdock Marching Band, Washington DC

The band consists of over 70 students (3/4 of the student body) and in 2010 they had the opportunity to march in the Memorial Day parade and spend Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC. I was lucky to be a sponsor and the trip was nothing short of spectacular.  In just 4 1/2 days we took over 80 people to the following locations

  • Arlington Cemetery
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: (Laid the schools band wreath)
  • Nations Capital: (experienced security at it’s finest when an abandoned baby stroller caused a evacuation of a marked perimeter)
  • World War II Memorial
  • Vietnam Memorial
  • Korean War Memorial
  • Iwo Jima Memorial
  • Lincoln Memorial
  • Memorial Day Concert on the Capital Lawn
  • Holcoust Museum
  • Memorial Day Concert on the Capital Step
  • Smithsonian Museums
  • Marching in the Memorial Day Parade

Our kids learned important lessons that weekend. Many family member serve in the military and the Vietnam Wall held special meaning for them. Tears were shed, and by the time our students placed a wreath at Arlington Cemetery there wasn’t a dry eye in the group.

WWII Memorial Washington DC on Memorial Day

My son was especially impressed by the World War II Memorial and I watched him quietly stare at the wall of stars. He asked about his grandfather and other relatives that served during WWII. That son is now a United States Marine and I couldn’t be prouder.

Photographing Washington D.C. Digital Field GuidePhotographing Washington D.C. Digital Field Guide25 Bicycle Tours In and Around Washington, D. C.: From National Monuments to Country Roads (25 Bicycle Tours)25 Bicycle Tours In and Around Washington, D. C.: From National Monuments to Country Roads (25 Bicycle Tours)Holocaust Museum In WashingtonHolocaust Museum In WashingtonArlington National Cemetery: A Guided Tour Through History (Timeline)Arlington National Cemetery: A Guided Tour Through History (Timeline)

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Memorial Day Weekend in Washington DCIf you ever get the chance to spend Memorial Day Weekend in Washington DC I would highly recommend it, take your time, soak in the atmosphere, and be proud of our country.

On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National CemeteryOn Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National CemeteryMrs. Lee's Rose Garden: The True Story of the Founding of Arlington National CemeteryMrs. Lee’s Rose Garden: The True Story of the Founding of Arlington National CemeteryArlington National Cemetery Became My ClassroomArlington National Cemetery Became My ClassroomAdministrative Guide To Information and Burial At Arlington National CemeteryAdministrative Guide To Information and Burial At Arlington National Cemetery

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Memorial Day Links

Memorial Day in DC: Planning Your Visit | Free Tours by Foot

Are you spending Memorial Day in DC and are you planning your visit on Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC? Free Tours by Foot has a list of the events, …
5 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day in Washington DC

Memorial Day Washington DC. Face it, the beaches will be crowded and the water is still too cold for swimming. Washington DC is the place to be for Memorial …
20 Things to Do This Weekend in Washington, DC | Washington.org

Vietnam Veteran at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day, Washington, DC Elvert Barnes. Stroll down the National Mall Tour the memorials on the …
The Rolling Thunder On Memorial Day 2014 – Washington DC – 5/25 …

Jun 3, 2014 … Rolling Thunder Memorial Day Washington DC 2014 – Duration: 2:14. waizzy1967 1,342 views. 2:14. DC Rolling Thunder 2014 – Duration: …

Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend in Washington, DC

During the Memorial Day weekend, people across the nation visit cemeteries and memorials in their hometown to pay homage to the fallen heroes. This year Memorial Day falls on May 26, 2014. The Nation’s Capital will hold …

‘Blessing of the Bikes’ Set for Friday at National Cathedral …

The event is planned to coordinate with the beginning of Rolling Thunder XXVII “Ride for Freedom,” the 2014 annual Memorial Day weekend gathering of bikers in the Washington, D.C. area and culminating in a ride from the …