“It was quite a sight to see our students marching down Constitution Avenue. It will be a highlight of my life forever,” affirmed YME Band Director Nicole Boelter. She was sharing her feelings about the students in the 212 Regiment Marching Band that performed “Revolution and Triumph” as they proudly marched down Constitution Avenue in the National Memorial Day Parade on May 31, 2010 in Washington, D.C. as a crowd of 300,000 spectators watched and listened.
While the National Memorial Day Parade was the largest parade the band participated in, the summer tour schedule included seven parades, and three local performances. The busy schedule began with the trip to the Nation’s Capital on May 27 and ended at the Vikingland Band Festival in Alexandria on June 27.
“A total of 98 students participated in the regular marching season. 40 students were from YME and 58 from Montevideo,” stated Boelter. The band fared well in four competitions this summer taking 3rd place in their divisions in each parade. On June 14, the band placed 3rd in Class A competition at the Pioneerland Band Festival in Benson. On June 17, they placed 3rd in Class AA competition at the Lake Waconia Band Festival in Waconia. On June 24, the band captured 3rd place in Open Class Competition in Brooklyn Center. The 212 Regiment Marching Band closed out the summer season on June 27 earning 3rd place in Class AA competition at the Vikingland Band Festival in Alexandria.
By far the logistics of the trip to Washington D.C. were the most challenging. “We had 41 students from YME and 32 Monte students that made up the 73 member band that marched in the parade,” stated Boelter. In addition to the students four directors, two band directors Ron Stary from Montevideo and Boelter from YME and two flag corps directors Chris Neardahl from YME and Sharon Forde from Montevideo guided the students along with seven chaperones and 12 other adults during the trip.
“The amazing roar of thousands of engines riding down Constitution Avenue was a heart stopping experience,” said Boelter of Rolling Thunder members, the motorcycle organization, that ride in parades across the country to recognize and remember POWs and MIAs left behind. Boelter went on to explain that at the Vietnam War Memorial two veterans, one from Vietnam War and one from the Gulf War, spent about 20 minutes sharing their military experiences with the students. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the group. Just seeing all the veterans in one place impacted the kids,” shared Boelter.
“It’s not just the marching experience and the fun of the trip for the students, it’s the opportunities that our students had touring the memorials and museums,” Al Stoeckman said about the trip. The students visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial), Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial.
“We also had an opportunity to visit several Smithsonian Museums including the Air and Space Museum, Native American Museum, the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum,” stated Boelter.
The only dark cloud over the successful second year of the 212 Regiment Marching Band was the resignation of Montevideo Band Director Ron Stary. Stary’s position as band director for the Montevideo School District was cut from full time to half time by the school board to reduce costs in the district. Stary has taken a position with a school district in Brookings.
At this time, Boelter is not sure what the future holds for the 212 Regiment Marching Band. A group of Monte High School music boosters is currently working to raise $250,000 over 5 years to reinstate a .5 FTE that would once again make the band teacher in the Montevideo District a full time position as well as reinstate an elementary/middle school vocal music position.
