Getting the band back together

HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) – A recent Sunday afternoon at the event center of Bluestone State Park near Hinton West Virginia was the site for a surprise party given to honor retired Hinton High School/Summers County High School Band Director Mrs. Becky Green who taught there from 1990-2010. The building was decorated with banners, trophies, old band uniforms, and music from songs played over the period she was teaching. The tables were covered in the school colors of black and orange and on the wall were hundreds of pictures of students at practices, performing in parades, competitions, ball games or on special band trips to New York, Washington DC, Florida and other venues.

Band members, their spouses, children, parents, grandchildren, Band Boosters and Chaperones from the first through the last year Green taught in Summers County were present to visit and reminisce with their friends and former classmates about the good times and what the band had meant to them at the time and in the following years. For many their time in the band offered them their first exposure outside Summers County. Several said, “If it weren’t for Mrs. Green and the Band, I would not be alive today and certainly would never have completed school”.

Among the former band members were several who have pursued careers in music and education including a college music professor, high school band directors, teachers, retired military, engineers, nurses, and a wide range of other careers who were affected by their time in the Hinton/Summers County High School Band. The current Band Director at Summers County is one of Green’s alumni. Band alumni came from all over the country with one former foreign exchange student coming all the way from Norway to attend.

Mrs. Green thought she was coming to a baby shower for one of her daughter’s friends who was a former band member (which was true but not the main reason for the event) and commented as she drove up, “Boy this is a big crowd for a baby shower,” and right behind, her 4-year-old granddaughter followed her in and saw the crowd, food and decorations and said, “Wow, this is the best baby shower ever!”

Many former band members who were unable to attend still sent pictures, recollections, comments and congratulations on Facebook and shared their fondest memories and what their time in the band had meant to them and the effects it has had on them. Among their memories was the trip to New York City. While the band was attending a Broadway show there was a bomb threat in the area and the streets were blocked to their hotel so the former band members attending said Green yelled at everyone to “Fall in. Form a line.” They did so, locked arms then marched several blocks around the detour till they reached their destination without losing anyone in the large crowds and confusion.

Many former band members recalled their nicknames, usually tied to the instrument they played. While probably not acceptable in today’s society or guidelines for teachers, Green often assigned and used nicknames to help her remember and communicate with the kids and often the members were so proud of these nicknames many have used them the rest of their lives.

Many who couldn’t attend also sent messages via https://www.tribute.co/becky-green/?invite=copy_link, The link has been extended for any former students and family members who would like to send video messages.

It was heartwarming to see how many second and third-generation band members were present. The teens and younger kids seemed to enjoy hearing tales from their parents and grandparents time in the band.