Condolences for the Chi-Hi Marching Band bus crash
Condolences for the Chi-Hi Marching Band bus crash
(Last modified: $Date: 2005/10/19 11:53:00 $ GMT)
Condolences offered:From: "Kathy Zerby" (KathyZerby7@msn.com) Subject: so sorry to hear Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:09:21 -0500 I haven't met you, but am a parent of a student in the Irondale Marching Knights. They were also traveling during the night last night from a band competition in Michigan. I know you guys also came to the Music of the Knight Competition at Irondale. I was so sorry to hear about your tragedy. Being a marching band parent, I know how close-knit this group becomes and how special a group it is. There are no words that can really help in a moment like this. Only know that so many people are thinking of you all. My thoughts are with you, and my prayers too. Kathy from New Brighton, Minnesota From: "Michael & Kelly Jordan" (Kalisa@columbus.rr.com) Subject: Your band is in our prayers. Date: Sun, Oct 16, 2005 at 07:21:05PM -0400: Dear Mr. Arneberg & family & the Chi-Hi Marching Cardinals, First of all, your band, families, school and community are in our prayers during this time of loss. We were very saddened after reading about such a tragic accident. My husband and I are band parents from Grove City High School, Grove City, OH. Our band traveled this past weekend to Pontiac, Michigan for the Regional BOA competition on charter buses as well. Last Christmas our band flew to London, England for the New Year's Day parade. From a parent's viewpoint, we can understand the joy and excitement as well as the fears of putting your child/children on buses, cars, planes or whatever method of transportation that is required to get them to where they are going. It can be very "nerve-wracking". As I sit here typing this email to you, our band has yet to return from their trip. It also goes without saying that the band program is like one's extended family. The kids, parents and staff/teachers become very close to one another, spending a tremendous amount of time together. Thus, a loss such as this is a huge blow to everyone and the community. We will ask that our band lift up your band in their prayers and to remember them in the difficult days to come. Again, we are so very sorry for your loss. John 14:1-9 records this account of Jesus' words: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
In Christ, Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:39:53 -0600 From: The Gainey Family (gainey@charter.net) Subject: Thinking of you. Tom, Just a quick note to thank you for providing infomation about the accident. On behalf of the MHS Marching Band and their families in Menomonie, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to your band and their families. It could have been one of our buses and the pain seems unimaginable. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Anne and Dan Gainey Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 06:50:17 -0500 From: "Brian Duffy" (Brian.Duffy@ISD197.ORG) To: Subject: My deepest sympathies My name is Brian Duffy. I am a band director at Heritage Middle School in West St. Paul. I heard the terrible news this morning as I was driving into school and I am just devestated. I cannot even begin to understand the pain so many people are feeling right now. I am writing to let you know that all of my prayers and thoughts are with all of the members of the Chippewa Falls community. I pray for your healing. If there is absolutely anything I can do at anytime for this community, please do not hesitate to contact me. May God's strength be with all of you.
Sincerely, Subject: Our Sincere Sympathy From: MRiehl1178@aol.com Date: Sun, October 16, 2005 8:28 am On behalf of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Band, we send our prayers and sympathy in regards to your overwhelming sadness. Please know that all of us here in Lexington, Kentucky, and I am sure everywhere, share your grief. Our hearts go out to all your band kids, the staff, your families, and all their friends. Terese "Richter Family" (rrichter@wwt.net) Just a note to let you know our thoughts are prayers are will all of you during this terrible time. As a band parent we understand the depth of your sorrow. We were fortunate to see your band perform at DC Everest, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, and yesterday at Whitewater. I certainly thought you had a chance to win with the awesome performance. Randy Richter Subject: Bus Accident Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 13:09:24 -0500 From: "Gilbertson, Paul" (pgilbertson@ecasd.k12.wi.us) Tom, I had no idea that you had kids involved in this tragedy. I have been thinking since I heard, "there but for the grace..." All of us at North send our deepest sympathies and offer whatever support we can give to you. It's every director's and parent's nightmare -- we hope the sun will be out soon for all of those involved.
Paul Gilbertson From: "Kevin Hagen" (khagen@centurytel.net) Subject: condolences Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 13:41:17 -0500 As a member/chaperone for the Spooner Rails Marching Band band parents group, I want to thank you for the excellent information you have provided on your site and send our condolences to our fellow band parents and band members. We traveled that same route a few hours before you. As parents of the percussion section leader for Spooner's band, and Chippewa Falls natives, our hearts and prayers go out to you for your tragic loss. We have always been so proud and impressed by the Cardinals and the invitational you offer, and we know Mr. G and Mr. C, our fellow band parents and your excellent band and color guard members are responsible for that.
Kevin Hagen/Kathy Bartilson Subject: Thoughts and prayers from Vienna, VA From: "beckytoddyork" (beckytoddyork@verizon.net) Date: Mon, October 17, 2005 10:40 am As a band parent in Vienna, VA (James Madison High School), I send to you all our thoughts and prayers. We had just left church when we heard this tragic news on the car radio, and we all said a prayer to be with all the kids and parents associated with the Chippewa Falls High School band. May you be comforted to know that strangers are thinking of you during this difficult time.
Sincerely, Subject: condolences From: "Lynn Pape" (Mapleskin@Peoplepc.com) Date: Mon, October 17, 2005 8:11 am I am with the PCEP Marching Band in Canton Michigan and we would like to express our most heartfelt sympathy to your band family from ours. The news of your tragedy has devastated us. We would like to send our condolences to your band. Could you please give us an address where we can send something to express our sympathy for your losses? We would like to also send something to any injured students if you could give me information on that. Once again, we are very sorry for your loss and we pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured.
Lynn Pape Cc:m: "Tom Hotle" (tgh@SGI.com) Date: Mon, October 17, 2005 8:11 am On behalf of the Chi-Hi Atletic boosters, I want to offer my condolences and deepest sympathy. This is a terrible tragedy for our school and our community. If there is anything the athletic boosters can do to help your organization through this, whether it be manpower, financial, or morale support, please let me know. Sincerely,
Tom Hotle Subject: My deepest sympathies From: "Graham, Lori (Transcription)" (LoGraham@olmmed.org) My name is Lori Graham and I live in St. Charles, Minnesota, 20 miles east of Rochester. My heart is being pulled very strongly to send this email. I attended high school at Yuba City High School in Yuba City, California. On May 21, 1976 a bus load of our choir members were on their way to the Bay Area (Orinda, California) for a choral concert. While attempting to negotiate a very sharp 30 mph elevated off ramp, the bus lots all its brakes and went off the ramp, landing on its roof 30 feet below. We had 28 students and one of the choir teachers were killed, 27 people survived. I was not on the bus that day but lost several of my very good friends. This was 10 days prior to my 16th birthday. I know how this tragedy has affected your community. I have lived it. It will be 30 years in May 2006 and the memories are still so vivid. My mother tried to get me to speak to a grief counselor but I felt I didn't need to do that. I attend upward of 12 funerals in 5 short days. I want to encourage each and every one of you to talk with someone to help you get through this tragedy. To this day I wished I had spoke with someone and I am now 45 years old. The hurt is still there, just as deep as it was 30 years ago. When I saw the story of your tragedy on the news, tears just flowed from my eyes. Since the accident in 1976 I have become a Christian. I know Christ is using me to help you, which in turn will help me deal with my own tragedy. Please, please, if you have any grief feelings, talk with someone, and even if you feel you can handle this, talk with someone anyway. Pray for God's help in this matter, he will help you stay strong. I wish so much I could come and meet with some of you individually but I have run out of vacation for the year. Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of you. If anyone even wants to talk to me, I'm available via email at "lori531@webtv.net" or you can reach me at home at 507-932-4297. God is walking with you in this time of grief and know that your loved ones and friends are watching you from heaven and are proud of each and every one of you. God has a purpose for these people, just as he has a purpose for you here on earth. Blessings to each and everyone of you who read this, and know that I'm thinking about you and praying for all of you. I pray that those injured will be quickly healed and home with their families real soon and I pray for the family and friends of loved ones killed in this accident. God be with all of you.
Lori Graham Subject: Our offers and prayers and support Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 15:16:44 -0400 From: "Fertig, Cindy L. " To: Good Afternoon, My name is Cindy Fertig. I am a band parent from Lebanon Pennsylvania. My heart goes out to you and your school; we too were traveling home from a competition on Saturday night. When I heard of the tragedy that struck your students I was deeply saddened by your loss No one can predict what will happen in life, and it sounds like your director lived his life for the kids may his memory inspire many others to follow his lead. Being so far away all we can offer is our prayers and that you have. I know that our students are planning to send something to your students if you have thoughts as to what may be helpful please let me know. Our students experienced a bus accident 3 years ago, fortunately not as horrific as yours but the kids are sympathetic to your tragedy. May God protect your school as you proceed with the grieving process. Cynthia Fertig From: "Len Salmela" (lenfaye@mchsi.com) Subject: so sorry Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:24:26 -0500 We heard of your tragic bus crash while we were at breakfast Sunday morning. Needless to say the breakfast went in the trash. As band parents of 3 children who went through the Grand Rapids Marching band program, this hits really close to home. We know that band students are exceptional young people and they will come through this stronger, wiser people. Please know that your school and community are in our thoughts. Our condolences to all the affected families.
A band mom & dad From: Jack and Nicole Young (youngjn@sbcglobal.net) Subject: My thoughts are with all of you Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 17:07:28 -0500
Hello, Thinking of all of you,
Jack Young From: The Gainey Family (gainey@charter.net) To: toma@arneberg.com Subject: Thinking of you. Tom, Just a quick note to thank you for providing infomation about the accident. On behalf of the MHS Marching Band and their families in Menomonie, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to your band and their families. It could have been one of our buses and the pain seems unimaginable. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Anne and Dan Gainey From: "Bodeau family" (dkbodeau@charter.net) To: (toma@arneberg.com) Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 08:13:44 -0500 Dear Tom, I am a band parent from Eau Claire Memorial High School. On behalf of the entire Memorial Band Program and Band Boosters, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to Chippewa Falls. Your loss touches all of us in the music community and words to express our grief are lost to me. On Thursday, we have our last home football game and our band will be performing. In honor and memory of the Greenhalgh's and Brandon, our band and band parents will be tying red ribbons around their arm and the band will play Chippewa Falls school song. Oh, if only we could do so much more. You are all being held close in our hearts through our thoughts and prayers.
Kim Bodeau From: Glenda Sims To: toma@arneberg.com Cc: gksims@comcast.net Subject: How can we help? Dear Mr. Arneberg, My name is Glenda Sims and I am a marching band mom. My children are also Marching Cardinals but in Coon Rapids, MN. I can not express the grief and heartbreak that your tragedy has had on not only the members, staff and parents in Coon Rapids but I am sure through out the entire family of high school marching bands. If there is anything we can do as a community to help you through this horrible ordeal, please contact me anytime. Do you think letters or emails like this one from our members would help? Memorials? Please, let me know what you need. Thank you for your efforts in updating your website and keeping us informed. You all will continue to be in our prayers. Hug your son for all of us. With Deepest Sympathies,
Glenda K Sims From: YucatanBeachBum7@aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:19:31 EDT Subject: Responding to your Loss To: toma@sgi.com My name is Rachel Thompson. I am a member of the Oak Creek High School Marching Band. On Sunday morning my family received a phone call from a friend of ours calling to tell us the news of an accident up near Chippewa Falls. I burst into tears when she told me that it was their High School Marching Band. I kept thinking that's impossible, I just saw them perform the night before. I saw them win 3rd place and leave that stadium with gleaming smiles on their faces. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing on the news. I couldn't help thinking that, that could have been me and my band. So I am writing to you with my deepest sympathy. I want you to know that you are in my prayers and thoughts as we begin to prepare for Frankfort, IL. on Saturday. I want you to know that I am deeply sorry for your loss and pray for you every night. On Saturday I will be walking onto that field with you in my heart. I hope God is with all of you.
Sincerely, Subject: From EC Memorial.... Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 12:23:05 -0500 From: "Hering, Bruce" On behalf of the Eau Claire Memorial Band students and staff, I extend our deepest, heartfelt condolences to all affected by this tragedy. Our hearts go out to the students, families, friends and colleagues of these people. On a personal note, I have known Doug for many years as a colleague, and always thought he was one of those rare "larger than life" guys. I will miss him...especially at the Monster Bash for the Children's Theater. We have taken time today to talk to all the Memorial band students about this tragedy and many of them know students or staff affected....know that you are all in our hearts. One small thing we plan to do: during our last halftime performance this year, Eric Dasher and the Old Abe Marching Band will wear red arm bands in rememberance of those lost from Chi Hi.
Bruce Hering From: "Ryan McCarthy" To: condolences@cfma.info Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 14:15:13 -0400 My name is Ryan McCarthy and I am one of the Band Directors at Hudson High School. On behalf of Aaron Hilden (my HHS colleague), the Hudson Marching Band and the entire school, I offer our condolences in this time of great loss. Our Marching Band was in attendance on Saturday night in Whitewater and saw the Chippewa Falls performance. In addition, I saw Doug and spoke briefly with Brian Collicott. Brian and I go back a number of years as we were on staff together with Capital Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. As a band director in the area close ties to the Chippewa program, we in Hudson are all feeling a sense of loss, shock, sadness and grief. Our thoughts, well wishes and prayers go out to you and your families as you deal with this tragedy. If there is anything that we, as a program or school can do, please contact us.
Sincerely, From: "Putnam, Andrew" (APutnam@whitnall.com) Julie Woodbury (the Marching Band Dir. Here at Whitnall), who has worked with Doug countless times in both WSMA and with the past Chi-Hi Winter Guards in the North-Star circuit, and I would like to attend the memorial services for Doug. Could you please fill us in with the information when it becomes available? Also, please keep us informed on the progress of Brian, Jessie, and the others. Know and feel free to pass along that we met with all of our students this morning and everyone here is keeping the entire Chi-Hi Band program in our thoughts and prayers. Tomorrow we will all be wearing black with a small highlight of red in memory of those no longer with you/us. Again, if there is anything I, Julie, the band program or the boosters can do, please let us know, With Sincerest Sympathy, Andy
Andrew J. Putnam |
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