Letter to the Editor: Support HHS band's benefit dinner tonight

Editor:

I am a proud supporter of the Havre Marching Band, and would like to personally invited the Havre community to come out and support the band in its fundraiser, 6 to 8 p.m. today at Havre High School. The band will be having a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and a mini-concert with the proceeds paying for the Fourth of July trip expenses.

The band will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to march in the Fourth of July parade.

The band was nominated and chosen from other schools around Montana. What an exciting honor to have Havre represent Montana.

Many people don’t realize the time and effort these students and their instructor Mr. Johnke put into their marching.

Every summer the marching band participates in a weeklong camp to prepare them for their season of marching.

Special coaches are hired to come and teach the kids the new routine every year. A great deal of effort goes into their practices, from stretching and exercising to marching the formations and walking backwards on their toes. They work on the camp 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the whole week before the start of school.

Living next door to the high school, I have had the honor of watching these young adults with long hours of marching, and I always have my binoculars handy to spot my favorites.

In the past three years, I have opened my home during the camp to feed them lunch for two days. Some parents donated food, and we threw a big meal together for these very hungry students. It’s been an absolute privilege to engage with these students.

I have two grandchildren who have participated in the band program for five years. It’s been an amazing journey for them that’s not only fun, but also has given them some great life experiences.

So Havre, come out and show these students we are proud of them and help them pay for the trip.

Carol McIntosh

Havre