July 2024 Class this is David. I don?t know if Jim can send out the copy of the three pieces of paper my niece found, but if not, maybe he can put it on the website. We might already have this. It is the itinerary and instructions for the Orange bowl trip, which the band took when we were sophomores, if I'm not mistaken and I could be. Maybe this will jog your memory as well if you were with us on that memorable trip. We were on that bus about 24 hours each way so I do remember the smells :-) Be safe David dlasseter@gmail.com I remember that trip well! What fun that you still have the itinerary! My parents went on that trip with us -- not as bus chaperons, but in their own car. (My dad's mother lived in Miami Beach.) Yes, it took us "forever" for very uncomfortable school bus seats to get there --- no interstate in those days! I remember that State Troopers accompanied us all along the way --- one in front of the buses and one behind the buses. I can't remember if it was TN State Troopers the entire way, of if the other states provided State Troopers as we went through their states. Does anyone remember? I also remember that Ken Shipp was the one who arranged for us to be able to stay at Miami Military Academy. I also remember that one night while we were there, my father thought we should all see Mami Beach and all its sparkling lights at night. He convinced the band "powers that be" that was a good idea. So, off we went --- my father leading the way with the flashers on in his car, and all the buses following behind with their flashers on. As you might imagine, the Miami Beach Police stopped us, and said to my father something like," What do you think you are doing? You can't have school buses on the strip on Miami Beach!" My father replied that he had not seen any "No School Buses" signs. Then he explained who we were, why we were there, and that many of us would never get a chance to see Miami Beach again. So, in his usual charming and convincing way, from that point on we had an escort from the Miami Beach Police Department to cruise up and down the beach. What a fun time. On a personal note, several years later I was a student at Florida State University and was dating a guy (Steve) from Miami Beach, who asked if I would like to go to Miami Beach for the last part of December and first part of January to spend some time with him at his parents' house. His parents did all the right things ---- his mom called my mom to officially make the invitation, etc. So I was going to go. His mom sent me an agenda of what we would be doing, including going to a Dolphins game! So I called her to make sure I would be appropriately dressed for all the events. I had planned on jeans for most everything, but NO. She said I need pantsuits, and dressier clothes for some of the events. (I thought to myself, Miami Beach must not be as laid back as Tennessee.) It wasn't until I got down there that I realized his father was the Mayor of Miami Beach, so we had to "dress" for everything! For the King Orange Bowl parade, we rode in one of the convertibles and waved the entire route. At one point, Steve said something like, "I bet you never thought you would be in the King Orange Parade." I smiled and said, "This is my second time!!" Sally Netherland Wynn wynnwynn@aol.com More memories of the Orange Bowl trip and its aftermath. Caneta Jackson Gentry <658066916@vzwpix.com Sally, I remember seeing the lights of Miami Beach. That was such a fun trip, and our parents and teachers did all they could to make it such a memorable success. Robin Findley, Carol Patterson, Becky Robertson, and I were roommates, and I remember the fun we had. How fortunate we all were! Carolyn Bigger Lattimore carolynlattomore@gmail.com Most recent response: I love these great stories!!! Sally, how did you become the drum major for the band? Did you play an instrument first and then recruited to be the drum major? You were very impressive on the field with your precise struts and hand movements. Cathy Sakas cathyjosakas@gmail.com Please send your response or comment to leonhirt@tecomm.com