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Angleton Alumni Band celebrates veterans
Published November 2, 2009
ANGLETON — Charles Fricker usually spends his Friday nights helping to direct a high school band, but this time next year, he’ll be hitting notes on a marimba as a member of a U.S. Army band in Iraq.
“Our primary mission will be to play concerts all over Iraq for troops in an effort to build morale,” said Fricker, now the assistant band director at Angleton High School. “It’s an honor for me. It’s important to do your duty for your country.”
Fricker, who serves in the Texas Army National Guard, is set to be in Iraq for the first time from September 2010 to September 2011.
Fricker stood in full military dress as he waved the wand to direct the Angleton High School and alumni bands during the national anthem in a concert honoring veterans Friday night.
The Angleton Alumni Band and Angleton High School band had planned a tribute to veterans before the start of Friday night’s football game, but the concert’s theme became especially important when Fricker recently learned he would be deployed.
Alumni band members said they were happy to see how important the show was for Fricker and other veterans attending the pregame concert.
“All of our veterans are very excited about this,” said Stanley Montgomery, alumni band member.
As veterans lined up to march as part of the concert Friday night, Kasey Cox, who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, clutched a flag representing the Marine Corps.
“To come back here and have this going on, it’s overwhelming,” said Cox of Angleton. “I think this is just a great deal for them to do this for the community.”
The two bands joined the Angleton High School choir on Friday to perform the national anthem, “America the Beautiful” and a medley of songs that represent four branches of the military.
“I don’t think we could have made a better choice,” said Michelle Dominy, alumni band member.
The concert was special for the Angleton High School band because its members wanted to pay a tribute to Fricker, who they said is a lively band director who alternates from “serious” to “crazy.” He is an intense instructor who teaches music in a fun way, band members said.
“It’s awesome, but at the same time it’s sad,” said Raymond Solis, a trumpet player for the high school band.
Many band members said they were surprised to find out Fricker was in the military.
“He’s not just hardcore at one thing,” said senior Alyssa DeJesus, a tuba player.
Students cheered Fricker on Friday evening before the concert when he walked by them in the Angleton High School commons wearing his military uniform.
“He has a lot of respect and love from the kids,” Montgomery said.
Fricker said he was born and raised on the East Coast. In the three years he’s been part of the Angleton High School band program, he said he loves how much the residents have backed the school’s band and how they cherish the band’s rich history.
“It makes you want to be part of the community,” he said.
John Tompkins is senior reporter for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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