Tom,

Friday was no doubt a difficult day for the parents and kids but it was also a very good day to begin the healing process. There is no easy way to summarize the day as it was another full of emotion, caring, and compassion for each other.

I drove my two girls and their four friends down to Brookfield to attend Branden's funeral. They were just not quite ready to board a bus, but had a sincere need to pay their last respects. The trip down was very casual as the girls all chatted, laughed, and recalled very fond memories of the times in band, the trip to New York, and their excitement of getting C's phone call that morning.

We arrived at the church around 3:15, just before the buses. There were several other families that also arrived by car. All the students dressed in their band uniforms at the church and "TOGETHER" we as a marching band family proceeded to pay our respects to the Atherton family, all of us with a band necklace with an appropriate "A" on one side and a "G" on the other. Necklaces were also presented to members of the family.

A group of us parents stood before Branden's father in the receiving line as he thanked us for sharing our children with Branden and welcoming him into their lives. It was very touching to all.

The funeral was beautiful and uplifting, concentrating on the positive aspects of Branden's life, urging us all to live life to the fullest. I know it will help these kids move on.

The band did not stay afterwards for the fellowship with the family due to the long drive back home. The kids went back to the locker rooms and changed for the way home. As we all gathered by the locker rooms to prepare for departure, there was a very touching few moments. Branden's parents come into the room, stood silently while the kids all gathered. And at that moment his father signaled for them to gather in, which we all did.

The family thanked the students for coming and told them all how grateful they were. They told them how much Branden dearly loved all of them. They told them also that Branden left Waukesha with "BLUE" blood for this old alma-mater, but it quickly changed to "RED" as he dearly loved the Cardinal Marching Band. They told those students that they witnessed an amazing performance at Whitewater and that in their and Branden's mind it was a perfect score of 100. They urged the students to continue in music and live on the legacy that Branden and G would have wanted. To continue to play with passion and always give your best.

They closed by telling the kids that they were making sure a scholarship fund through UWEC to benefits students of Chi-Hi and Waukesha West.

The trip home was also pretty casual and the girls asked me to let them know as we drove through the crash site. As we passed through, I am sure they all had some different feelings as did I, but this was a good step in moving forward.

Regards,

Dave Randall randall@sgi.com
(Father of Alexandra - 11th grade Piccolo player)
(Father of Megan - 9th grade Clarinet player)