Monday, July 1, 2013

Liberty Weekend and The College All-American Marching Band



This is a fun time of the year. Summer is officially digging in and Fourth of July is just around the corner. Years ago, back in 1986 to be exact, the Statue of Liberty enjoyed a special Fourth of July weekend. After 100 years of salt water and weather wearing away at her exterior, Lady Liberty underwent an extensive facelift. 


The re-dedication party lasted from July 3rd through the 6th, with a series of concerts, performances, fireworks and celebrities. The television network, ABC, bid on exclusive rights to the production and they did not disappoint. 


So what does all this have to do with me? 

In the Spring of 1986, I was selected as a member of the College All-American Marching Band that performed at the Centennial Celebration of the Statue of Liberty. 


This 500 member marching band was complete with 76 trombones! It would be my first trip to New York City that I would remember (I was there when I was four, that doesn't count.) Kim Stevens joined me in representing Washington State University. If that wasn't good enough, I found out I was also selected as a squad leader for the Liberty Band. 

As squad leader, I flew out to New York a week prior to the arrival of the band to learn the routines and music so that I could help teach the rest of the band upon their arrival.


This was another whirlwind of an opportunity in my young life. I put baseball on hold for about three weeks as I jetted to the Big Apple for another experience of a lifetime. 
is the author of the #1 Kindle Bestselling Young Adult novel, The Card. He's also a healthcare consultant specializing in helping healthcare companies and practices develop a social media marketing platform, and maximize cash flow. You can find him posting weekly to Indies Unlimited and occasionally as a contributor on Yahoo!

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