Eastern will never know renowned events such as sporting and concerts without their co-puppet master: brilliant yet underrecognized. 

   Marching band is a staple in the majority of American high schools. A usual autumn outdoor season marches on football fields during and outside of school hours. The pit, the wind, the brass, the drumline, and the guard make for an attention-worthy football halftime show with state-wide competitions the next morning. This year saw the water-motivated “Ripple Effect.” 

    The narration played through speakers during an instrumental break moved bleachers through the motivations of water. One drop causes a domino effect, bending the rest of the events to come. The color guard section works with a yoga ball in order to display this change, the ball bouncing as the musicians move around the field. The season saw them securing high placements at every competition. 

   What is often paid the least amount of claps and symbol-hits, however, is the indoor marching band season. A marching band alongside its instruments and flags packs into a gymnasium full of bleachers. They do exactly what a marching band does: march with purpose. This year, they march to a show called “We Build Together.”

    This show not only features a pit, a drumline, and a color guard, but a car built in the process. Multiple hands are crafted together, providing the theme that work is better done with multiple forces and that it is oftentimes unrealistic to go about work or life single-handedly. So far this season, they have reigned in their victory streak. 

    The musicians’ social media photos display true victory, both an external and internal sentimental feeling.  

   Such inspired me to ask a purposeful question. “Why do you march?”

   According to Angelina Lubo, a freshman, her decision to proceed with Eastern’s color guard is a matter of unity in friendships. “Honestly the thing I like most about color guard is the friends I’ve made and feeling like you’re a part of something” she said. “The friends I have made in band have helped me through very hard times and I felt like I was useless at times but guard felt like it gave meaning to me and it made me feel like I was a part of something big.” Tricks, dance moves, rotations, and lengthy marches with a flag in hand seems to have its sense of unity. 

   Trumpet player, Junior Laura Ebersole would agree with Lubo’s statement in terms of the number of hands willing to help her push the keys. “Definitely all the friendships I’ve made. They made transitioning into freshman year so much easier and I can always count on them whether we’re on the field or not.” 

   Junior Johann Arnold, with experience in manipulating both the xylophone and the vibraphone, feels great pride in his Eastern marching. “We started learning the show in music in January, and I loved the way it sounded. Band always gives me something to do during the week, instead of doing nothing at home” Arnold said. “As of now, we have had two competitions, and we placed first in both of them. It’s safe to say that the season is going great.” He then went into a more personal reason as to why he feels purposeful to play in the pit. “I may not be the best musician, but just seeing my friends, and knowing that I’m loved, is enough for me.”

   As far as the drumline goes, Jake Cunningham, a sophomore, had quite the words on his experience. “You have your good runs and you have your bad runs but the energy of being on a football field or a super loud gym with hundreds of people watching makes it worth it without question.”

    The different sections that make up Eastern’s marching band sure have their reasons behind stepping onto the field or gymnasium with feathered hats and dress shoes. It is quite safe to say that friendship and belonging are the reasons why they march with purpose. It is also satisfactory to see their names on the lips of a crowd. May Eastern always have the comfort of wonderful music alongside its accompanied pals.