I am a
(proud) alumni of the Pride of Berea but now a parent of a
Broadview Hts marching Bee. This past Friday was my niece
marching from Berea and my daughter both in the same show.
A
day I was so looking forward to!. We might of won the
football game but "band to band" it was clear that Berea still
has it!. You guys are CLEAN, sharp and attentive. Not only a
strong sounding marching band but excellent marching~adding
flare to everything you do. That's a hard balance to have
both. Those Directors have it in their blood and they're good at
what they do. Just wanted you to know your time and efforts
paid off. Everyone was thrilled with your outstanding
performance. It's a time in your life you'll never forget.
"Old band geeks never die, they just
leave after half-time!"
Traci (Hale) Herbell
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Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alan De Petro
.....In my forty two years as a television and radio news
reporter I was encouraged to cover high school football games
for the sports department at TV 5 (where I worked 25 years and
me along with 12 other staffers were offered a generous buyout
in 2000 which many accepted). At any rate, before we moved south,
I had one last northern wish and that was to attend the final
season game in 2003 of the Berea/Midpark game.
I must tell you
the Berea band performance that evening was simply the best I've
seen in assiduously watching high school football and half time
performances since 1943 in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New
York state, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida. That evening
in particular I didn't want to leave the BW stadium because I
felt it would be the final time I'd be able to enjoy this
fantastic marching band....but I promise to catch your band at
Disney World come 2007.
I've attended high school games here...but you must
understand for September, October and into early November there
IS NO CHILL IN THE AIR HERE....it is sultry, humid and many
times hot....not the way I was brought into the high school
football world on a windy, rainy night in mid October, 1943 when
an older cousin treated another cousin and I to a Youngstown
City Series contest between Youngstown Rayen High (the home of
the Warner Brothers) and my alma mater, Youngstown East High.....
Most sincerely, Alan De Petro
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More from Mr. De
Petro....
Hello Berea
High Band...the most entertaining and best band I've seen in
watching high school football since 19 and 43. I'm an old cout.
I
understand the Berea Braves will be playing Brecksville this
coming Friday. I hope the Plain Dealer web site will co-operate
with me Saturday morning....and please tell me the score.
Look
forward to seeing that great band at Disney World/Land come next
Spring.
All good
wishes for all the hard work you folks pour into that band, etc.
You are certainly unsung heroes.
God
bless.....
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It's great
to see the traditions, and styling of the band still going
strong. While stationed in the Persian Gulf with the U.S. Coast
Guard for Operation Iraqi Freedom, we were very starved for
entertainment. A very good friend, and band alumni had taken an
old VHS tape from the 1985-1986 marching season (anybody
remember the "Q-tips"), and converted it to DVD. I left the DVD
in the morale tent for everyone to enjoy (Coasties, Navy,
Marine, and Army). At least once a week I could hear music
coming from the tent ("Watermelon Man" and "Owner of a Lonely
Heart" is forever imbedded in my memory).
When I heard Jeff Fudale received the director position with the
high school, the first thing I thought was "Great...all we need
is a marching band with 100 pieces of percussion", but all
joking aside, when I can't make it to a game on Friday nights, I
always ask my parents "How was the band?"
I still have the same trombone. My parents still have my band
button, and my step-sons are finally taking an interest in
playing a musical instrument. I hope I can be as good a musical
mentor, as all the directors, assistants, and squad leaders were
towards me.
And one time...at band camp...wait...I'm going to stop
here...what happened on the field stays on the field.
Brian Rozek
Class of 1988 |
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