Hits and Highlights: DC/Gettysburg Choir Tour 2013
It was our singers’ idea. We had been told that unsanctioned singing was considered a form of protest at the memorials, and had thusly restrained ourselves during a day of sight seeing (mostly), but as Daniel gave us an F, and I faded to the back of the group, they one by one raised their voices in The Star Spangled Banner, one joining another, until all were singing, and passersby and tourists paused to place hands over hearts. 
That spine tingle? That’s it. That’s the feeling of the Big Choir Tour Moment, the moment each singer and chaperone would carry with them, despite the grandeur of other venues, and humor of friends new and old; our Big Moment was singing our National Anthem at the Lincoln Memorial.
Isn’t it funny that video can’t come close to capturing the power of the moment? You’d think that with aural and visual it would be just like being there, but it’s not. What I remember from that moment is standing in the back of the group, looking behind us, up the stairs, past the columns, the dark sillouettes of sparrows darting against a sunset-lit sky, everything tinged with gold, and the moment that all voices came together, despite the fact that some among us were sure we’d get arrested: the sweet, strong voices of our singers gaining momentum as one by one they join in song, the war veteran beside me placing his cap over his heart, a group of very special young people who had just experienced the awe of the Lincoln Memorial, read his words on its walls, and respond of their own accord by singing our National Anthem. [And we were not arrested. Success!]
Thank you to our tireless and patient chaperones! They cared for our singers with joy and kindness and really made the trip doable. Thank you to our responsible singers: as expected, not one discipline issue. Thank you to Sarah, our marvelous tour manager, and to Larry, the Best Bus Driver in the World (he parallel-parked that sucker!). And thank you, thank you, thank you to our tour sponsors through whose donations our trip was made possible:
Dr. Sujit Mohanty D.D.S., Ardyth Lohuis, ML Bell Construction, Gary and Margaret Barnard, Betsy Gallagher, Richard H. Villa DMD PC, William T. Lucas D.D.S., APE International, LLC, Dr. Pamela F. Regimbal of Aloha Orthodontics, Mary Bergstrom, Total Footcare P.C.,
and Carolyn Harper.
One last word: How can it be that despite face-melting sun the choir can still sound so gooooooood. Visit us on Facebook for more pictures and links to video. Believe in the Power of Song!
Posted: July 12, 2013 by admin
Hits and Highlights: DC/Gettysburg Choir Tour 2013
Hits and Highlights: DC/Gettysburg Choir Tour 2013
It was our singers’ idea. We had been told that unsanctioned singing was considered a form of protest at the memorials, and had thusly restrained ourselves during a day of sight seeing (mostly), but as Daniel gave us an F, and I faded to the back of the group, they one by one raised their voices in The Star Spangled Banner, one joining another, until all were singing, and passersby and tourists paused to place hands over hearts.
That spine tingle? That’s it. That’s the feeling of the Big Choir Tour Moment, the moment each singer and chaperone would carry with them, despite the grandeur of other venues, and humor of friends new and old; our Big Moment was singing our National Anthem at the Lincoln Memorial.
Isn’t it funny that video can’t come close to capturing the power of the moment? You’d think that with aural and visual it would be just like being there, but it’s not. What I remember from that moment is standing in the back of the group, looking behind us, up the stairs, past the columns, the dark sillouettes of sparrows darting against a sunset-lit sky, everything tinged with gold, and the moment that all voices came together, despite the fact that some among us were sure we’d get arrested: the sweet, strong voices of our singers gaining momentum as one by one they join in song, the war veteran beside me placing his cap over his heart, a group of very special young people who had just experienced the awe of the Lincoln Memorial, read his words on its walls, and respond of their own accord by singing our National Anthem. [And we were not arrested. Success!]
Thank you to our tireless and patient chaperones! They cared for our singers with joy and kindness and really made the trip doable. Thank you to our responsible singers: as expected, not one discipline issue. Thank you to Sarah, our marvelous tour manager, and to Larry, the Best Bus Driver in the World (he parallel-parked that sucker!). And thank you, thank you, thank you to our tour sponsors through whose donations our trip was made possible:
Dr. Sujit Mohanty D.D.S., Ardyth Lohuis, ML Bell Construction, Gary and Margaret Barnard, Betsy Gallagher, Richard H. Villa DMD PC, William T. Lucas D.D.S., APE International, LLC, Dr. Pamela F. Regimbal of Aloha Orthodontics, Mary Bergstrom, Total Footcare P.C.,
and Carolyn Harper.
One last word: How can it be that despite face-melting sun the choir can still sound so gooooooood. Visit us on Facebook for more pictures and links to video. Believe in the Power of Song!
Category: blog