A Memorial to a Great Man...

"Extra work is the key to life"

Yesterday I found out that the man that had founded and lead the camp I attended to become a better drum major, passed away suddenly on Thursday from a heart attack very close to where I live. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, and if I had to compare it to coming, it would be when I found out that Steve Irwin had died. Both figures seemed untouchable in my mind, but for different reasons

It's a surreal experience for me, because I had just met George this summer at the camp, and while the camp itself was very difficult to get through, at the end of the day, he always had a speech that would make me smile. He would teach us a lesson in a way that we could understand. He taught us how a real leader should act, and the thing is, even though he never yelled at us, we listened! My other teachers continually tore me down, but he would build us all back up.

No one knows what will happen to the Drum Major Academy without him. Will it just end? I mean, his name is in the camp! The George N. Parks Drum Major Academy! It's his brain child! I've never met a man more passionate for band, or a man that could have inspired so many young people in the short life he lived. They said the cause of death was a heart attack. I guess his was just too big.

"Starred thought: life never was worth it until you've inspired at least one person"

Well, his life had more worth than many people more famous than him.

I try to think of the UMass band, his band, which he had been traveling with when he died. They slept in a high school gym, and when they did reach their destination, the Michigan band played their Alma Mater in his honor.

I don't really know how else I can describe George, only knowing him for 4 days, and I'm not used to writing stories about death. It's a shame. I guess George can describe himself.

"You know how there is a football captain, basketball captain, and cheerleading captain, just to name a few? You are a drum MAJOR! YOU OUTRANK ALL OF THEM!!!"

"Did you want to be drum major to make the band better?To be a leader?

LAIR!!!
You want the uniform and for everyone to say your name!"

"If you have to tear someone down, you need to build them back up."

" 'I am the field commander; Field...GROW' "

"When things get tough, get good."

"Raise your right hand has high as you can. Now go two inches higher. THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR LIFE"

"How many of you didn't think that a George Parks was actually going to teach you this week?" *raises hand* 

Every self respecting leprechaun has a beard, but that guy doesn't! *points to Lucky from Lucky Charms* I went through college, and I decided to shave my beard, and HE shows up! I feel like I should say 'Detail: Present CHARMS' !"

"Give me your eyes!"

"Detail, sparkle HUT"

Now he may seem like a total cynic, but all these quotes were in good fun, to make us realize who we really are as field commanders/drum majors. I'm honored to have been taught by him this year, and I hope his legacy lives on forever in all the people he influenced.

 

All Is Fair in Love-

One of my defining characteristics among my friends is my love of rainbows. I mean, I LOVE. RAINBOWS. I don't know what it is, but something about the way that all the colors are arranged just awakens something in my brain and it's pleasant to me, but they have to be done right. For example, this picture isn't quite right, as the rainbow has almost no green, so it bothers me a little bit, but the picture does represent my feelings. I have many accessories and such with a rainbow theme, and during my trip to Europe, I just about fainted with how much more they had. I bought a belt, socks, and I wanted to buy a rainbow hoodie, but I didn't for some reason. My first day of marching band, I wore my rainbow belt, and my whistle was on a rainbow lanyard. After the practice, a girl that came back after a year away came up to me and said "I was going to ask you something, but it might offend you." So I replied with "No, what is it?" and she asked in a hushed tone, "Are you like...a lesbian or do you just like rainbows?" Now this girl is awesome, and I know she would never try to offend me. There wasn't any tone of disdain in her voice, and I just laughed and said "I just like rainbows"


Now I've been told many times by several friends that it wouldn't surprise them if I turned out to be at least bisexual, and my other friend says she's waiting for that day to come for some reason. I don't have any problems with gay people, or gay marriage, because I believe that everyone is special in their own way and they all deserve the same amount of happiness. Heck, even the Declaration of Independence says that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Now my dad has stressed the "PURSUIT of happiness" bit, but we're not guaranteed it. You're allowed to work for it. But I digress. My dream for years and years has been to marry a gentleman, and have children with him, and live with him till death do us part. The man is the constant in the equation, yet at the moment, I feel like I lack a sexuality. I don't feel attraction to either side, though last year I was like BOYS BOYS BOYS. I've come to the realization that men are imbeciles, at least in high school, so I just shouldn't waste my valuable brain power on them. Another thing is that my dad is a homophobic, and if I ever became a lesbian, than the relationship between us would probably break completely. In the long run, that would be bad...


So I plead that one day things will change, and that one day headlines with read "GAY MARRIAGE LEGALIZED IN THE US" and cheers will be heard around the world, though it might cause travel to decline to areas like Belgium and Niagara Falls, but I hope not because both places are beautiful!


Happy Blogging!
-Devon 

Who would give a law to lovers?  Love is unto itself a higher law.

                          -Boethius