A lot of things happen in Northeast Georgia that do not get the news coverage I feel they deserve. The reason this is on my mind is because this past weekend the Lake Lanier Tournament of Bands, Marching Band Festival and Competition was held at the Chestatee High School football field. It wasn't just local bands, although there were four Hall County bands in the competition and the Chestatee band was the host. In all, there were 28 bands registered, coming from Athens to Snellville, to Homer. From Monroe to Dahlonega to Blairsville to Buford. From Hartwell to Jasper to Norcross to Cumming. And it wasn't just who had the best band ... it was also measured by the drum major, the color guard, the dance team, the majorettes. I have no idea how many people attended, but it was a huge event. Think about it: There were the parents; the kids from schools who were not band members; and the number of band members probably averaged onehundred per band which means that group alone brought in 2800 people. It was a great event for music and music education in Northeast Georgia. But as Paul Harvey would say, let me tell you the rest of the story. Across the football field from the stands was an oversize pickup truck and a big trailer, and on that trailer was lettered Chestatee War Eagles Marching Band. The rest of the story is that six years ago, after 9-11 when the American Legion brought back the Memorial Day Parade in Gainesville, the Chestatee Band under Daniel Merck agreed to march, and they did so every year the parade has been held. And because they could always be counted on, Gene Shadburn bought that trailer to haul the band instruments to football games and band competitions. I have an idea if Gene Shadbum had been alive, he and Faye would have been there Saturday ...beaming from ear to ear.
This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.
Thursday
May 9th, 2024
9:18PM
