It was a very unusual site to see approximately 300 band students and color guard members marching through the streets of Chestnut Meadows, Fox Hollow, Windmill Farms, and Travis Ranch. Forney High School and North Forney High School’s bands both held their first annual March-A-Thons (MAT) over the past two weekends.
It was a very unusual site to see approximately 300 band students and color guard members marching through the streets of Chestnut Meadows, Fox Hollow, Windmill Farms, and Travis Ranch. Forney High School and North Forney High School’s bands both held their first annual March-A-Thons (MAT) over the past two weekends.
North Forney High School’s Band and Color Guard marched the streets of Windmill Farms and Travis Ranch on Saturday, August 11, 2012. The NFHS group had approximately 140 students involved in their March-A-Thon. The route taken in Travis Ranch offered more front lawn views of the passing band and color guard so many residents came outside to watch and listen.
NFHS’s Band Director, Mack Wood stated, “It’s the most lucrative fundraiser we have had to date.” The money raised will go to help students offset the cost of needed items during marching season such as, practice uniforms, band shoes, gloves, water coolers, band polo’s, and other miscellaneous items used throughout the marching season. Additional money available after the marching season is complete will be used to help fund their band trip. “The March-A-Thon will be an annual event and we hope to make it a bigger event next year,” said Wood.
The Forney High School’s Band and Color Guard marched through Chestnut Meadows and Fox Hollow on Saturday, August 18, 2012. The scorching heat eased a bit in the morning, offering ideal marching conditions. The FHS Band and Color Guard offered sponsored lawn concerts where individuals could donate $100 and have the band play a song in front of their home. The FHS Booster Club was able to schedule fourteen lawn concerts and obtain 30 sponsors.
Much like NFHS, all the proceeds will go to fund band expenses, lessons, classes, and trip expenses. FHS Band Booster, Krista Harrington said, “This event was a collaboration with the FHS Band Directors and FHS Band Boosters and we received tremendous support from the Forney Community which we are very appreciative of!”
inForney.com’s coverage of the March-A-Thons on Facebook received several different comments from users. Pete Martinez says in response to the MAT coverage, “I love this town, glad I moved here.” and Melanie Harlan said, “My kids literally ran all the way down our street to catch the show!”
Forney and North Forney High Schools have both stated this traditional will live on and they are both excited for next years March-A-Thons. See more photos from both March--Thons below.
