Honored

Several weeks ago, we had a Veteran's Day assembly at school. The chorus, the band, and the strings all performed as we honored veterans from the community. It is always a nice opportunity for us to serve the community and for them to see that public middle schoolers aren't crazy.

Well, earlier this week my band students started coming up to me saying they had to re-do the veteran's day assembly on Tuesday and asking if they could miss class for it. I was confused because I hadn't heard anything about another assembly and the students weren't really sure why they were doing it either. They thought they had to do it so they could record it. With it being the day before Thanksgiving break, I didn't ask many questions and told them they could go.

At lunch on Tuesday the band director came in and told us what was really going on. One of the 8th grade band student's father got home from Afghanistan Monday night. He had not seen his daughter yet and they arranged the assembly "re-do" to surprise her and honor him. She plays on the drum line and was playing her heart away on the bass drum when her dad walked into the gym. It took her a few seconds to realize what was going on. The band teacher said she stared in confusion for a few seconds as she continued playing and then the recognition of what was going on happened. It still took her a few more seconds to fully grasp it before she took off across the gym to hug him. There wasn't a dry eye in the place; it was so sweet.

I haven't been able to hear someone tell this story or tell it to someone else without getting choked up. I know it is a moment she will never forget. It's moments like these that make being a teacher so special.