AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Overcoming tragedy, the American Fork High School Marching Band is poised to compete for the championship at the Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana.
One week ago, competing in The Nationals wasn't even a possibility. But the door opened last weekend when the band won the Bands of America Regional Competition in St. George. But the challenges seemed insurmountable -- not the least of which was raising $250,000 in two days. "It's amazing how all this transpired," said the Director of the Band, John Miller. "A lot of people laughed. They said, 'Do you know what you're thinking of doing here?" They did, and they did it.
The band raised nearly a quarter million dollars in 48 hours. Students dug into their savings; they asked parents and grandparents to do the same. And what they could not raise themselves, came in the form of donations big and small from around town and around the country. Terelyn Carter, the band's administrative assistant said, "I think we just have some guardian angels looking out for us."
This season has been dedicated to one of the band's instructors, Heather Christensen, who died in October when a band bus crashed while returning from a competition in Pocatello, Idaho. Christensen tried to take the wheel of the bus when the driver passed out. She lost her life, but the band members onboard believe her actions saved their lives.
This will be the American Fork Band's 4th visit to Nationals and a chance to make the finals for only the 2nd time in the school's history. But Senior Drum Major Deborah McKinney says this time the competition is about more than just trophies. "Of course we're going to go and we're going to do our best. If we make it we make it. But right now we're going to do our best to put the passion to the music." Fellow Drum Major Richard Flores agrees, "This show is really moving and really powerful and we have a chance to show that to everyone." They say the performance before a national audience is a chance to say "thank you" to the many people around the country who gave them their sympathy and support after the accident.
For more information on the American Fork Marching Band and to make a donation:
http://afbands.org/
