HOW QUICKLY TIME PASSES!

I can't believe that this much time has gone by! Now seeing all of
these names again makes me feel, in some ways, that it was only
yesterday we were all searching for uniform parts and helping each
other get ready for each performance. As I sit here writing this I
can remember vividly the smell of a school bus full of soaking wet
wool when we were leaving Soldier Field. My two sons look at me
rather oddly as I tear up watching the reunion video and trying to
even explain what those days were like. With one on his way to
college this year and one a senior they have had experiences and made
high school memories I know; however, nothing I have ever encountered
with them seemed to have had the camaraderie that we all had....I
believe that was because of the special man who led us. Actually,
he not only led us but bled with us, cried with us and cheered with
us. We became his children and he became our mentor. The countless
hours on the practice field, the times at the assembly line for
hoagies (which I have never found one to ever compare to ours!) the
bus rides and all of the amazing performances have indelibly been
etched forever inside all of us. I cannot hear a bagpipe or the song
Amazing Grace played to this day without getting goose bumps. Mr.
Heffron brought to a little town in Illinois the most amazing
experience with his belief, commitment and enthusiasm. I know his
own family probably suffered many times for us and hopefully knowing
how many lives he touched will give them comfort in their grief. I
know that all of the lessons learned by his hand made all of us, who
were lucky enough to have been a part of this extraordinary group,
truly blessed.