To: Mr. Robertson
I
first marched under your leadership in the summer of '92 as a just
graduated 8th grader out of Jason Lee Middle school for the Indy Car
races for the Rose Festival. We were to march down the race track
playing the Star Spangled Banner to open the races. Having only marched
briefly in Jason Lee I was intimidated putting on a Columbia River
Uniform among older high school students before even being a true
freshman. I admit because of my nervousness I probably flubbed or
skipped notes here and there trying to concentrate on just being able to
march correctly. That skill would be learned quickly as I entered Band
Camp two weeks prior to school starting a couple months
later.
Each
year after the first, Band Camp became a time of drill and kill, honing
skills, mastering maneuvers, and memorizing music until it seeped from
your dreams at night. But, it also was the chance to reunite with
friends, grow from scared freshmen into leaders, and to gain skills that
you won't realize are as important at the time but become apparent as
time goes by.
As
I look back fondly at the many memories that I had during my years at
Columbia River, most circulate around band. A few of the following
memories I vividly recall and often still share (much to the delight of
my wife) are as follows:
1.
You, Mr. Robertson, trying to figure out some way for me to play my
trombone, in uniform, with a full arm cast on my left arm my sophomore
year (I marched but was unable to use my trombone. Duct tape just wasn't
going to work).
2. Winning in Florida in '96 even though we couldn't perform our marching routine due to thunderstorms.
3. Marching in Rose Parades and having the most sore arms from holding my trombone up through the entire parade
4. Traveling by tour bus rather than school buses, making trips more comfortable
5.
Winning the entire Sunset High School competition and finally beating
Sunset (our arch enemy among others) my senior year. Funny story about
this one, my wife was actually at that competition in the color guard
for Beaverton High School and remembers us running out on the field when
we were announced the winners, then being told to return to our
section.
6. The smell of wet, wool uniforms and the sweat drenched undershirts from the heat produced by said uniforms.
7.
And finally, marching with you again after I graduated from high school
with the One More Time Around Again Marching Band (This was also the
last year my father could
march in the group due to Post Polio Syndrome).
Thank
you Mr. Robertson for the many years you have taught. In fact what you
have taught me comes in use each school year as I lead my class of 2nd
graders down the hall to specialist marching backwards without looking
knowing exactly where I am in relation to others and my surroundings
just as you taught me as that scared 8th grader marching for the first
time with high schoolers.
You
have taught so many and infected us with skills, knowledge, and a love
for competition marching and music that will last us the rest of our
lives.
Thank you,
Chris Anderson
Trombone
Class of '96
Marching Band '92 - '96
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