As I've mentioned before (in my Welcome post), I love color guard. I want to talk about that more and how much it's affected my life in such wonderful and even loving ways.
Now, imagine me, if you will, as a little eighth grader. As a fun little after school activity, I joined the color guard. We worked for four weeks (two days a week I believe) on a routine for the Memorial Day parade with the
Middle School at Parkside band. I wasn't even able to do half the moves, but I still had fun. I was in the second row, in the middle of three columns as we walked down the street. My friend Larissa was next to me. We did our moves all the way down the street, I only dropped the flag a few times too.
But before we had walked onto the street, two girls from
Manchester High School West (the one I would be advancing to after graduation) came over to talk to us. I could see in the background others doing tosses and more advanced moves, I was impressed. The two girls were talking with our instructor, who was also their current instructor. One of the girls asked how to join the color guard in high school, and the older girls smiled. They told us that it wasn't too late to sign up for the class, but I didn't think much of it. After the parade, everyone hung up their flags and we went on with the rest of the year. It wasn't until halfway through the summer that I'd even see a color guard again.
I was at soccer tryouts. It was three days of working, running laps, playing scrimmages, and more. All to see if you were good enough to go onto the varsity team. I wasn't in that group. Nor was I in the group to join the junior varsity team because there were not enough girls. I was a bit heartbroken. I had been playing soccer for eight years and I thought I was a very good player. I went home with my mother, we now lived right next door to West. When we pulled into the driveway, I saw something familiar. Color guard.
I also saw my old instructor/choir teacher there. I wanted to go over and say hello. She told me she was happy to see me and asked if I was interested in joining the color guard squad. I told her I wasn't fully sure if I wanted to or not. My mother told me it wouldn't hurt to try it, and they were just starting practice anyway. The high school band director came out,
Mrs. Diane Francoeur. She told me that it was okay for me to practice with the squad. One of the girls helped me learn moves that I was not able to do just a few months prior. I found that it came very easily to me to learn. I was given a schedule of all practices and band camp when I left, I was also told that I would get color guard put on my schedule for the first day of high school. I was so happy. I felt that I belonged there, more than I did in any of my soccer teams.
During band camp I made friends, Larissa was in there too. My twin joined the week after I had. We learned a whole field show within a week and performed it in front of parents and friends before showing it off at all the home games (and a few away games too!). We had different routines for each song, and four songs a show. We also had to learn different routines for each parade we did. I had so much fun. The class period was the same time as the band, so while we practiced just outside, we could hear them playing the songs. I had the most fun that I could.
Of course, there was drama, though. Can't have a group of about ten girls and not have drama, but I don't want to shed light on that part of my color guard life, it's all about the love in this post.
The next year the class was a different period, which meant we used a recording to practice with music. I still had fun though. I was a squad leader, which is like a tier below captain in case you don't know. I was happy and still doing something that I loved. I still belonged. My junior year I was still squad leader, but something caused me to not have the ability to take the class. Luckily my instructor and Francoeur still allowed me to be in the squad. I don't know what I would have done if they didn't.
The end of my senior year I tried out for color guard captain. And I got it! Along with another squad member, we were co-captains. I still was not able to take the class senior year because of the chamber choir I was in. But I made it work by practicing on my off periods and coming to every practice that we had (I think I missed a total of twenty practices all four years). I worked hard getting my own routine written, and I used moves and techniques I had learned from my week at
Drum Major Academy, or DMA. And yes, DMA has color guard in it. But they mainly cater to upcoming drum majors.
Both during Junior and Senior year, I went to color guard exhibitions. I didn't perform in them, I went to watch. I loved it. The different elements, the use of props. All of it. I loved it all. My mom bought me a guard charm bracelet. I would have worn it more than I did if it didn't turn my wrist green.
The end of my Senior year became bittersweet. I was saying hello to a new chapter in my life, but saying goodbye to something that had been my life for four years. I was saying goodbye to spinning and tossing. To the uniform and the makeup. To band camp and coming home with turf in my shoes. To half-time shows and Salem Band Show. To all my lovely guard girls and my instructor. I didn't realize until halfway through college how much color guard meant to me. I was upset that I couldn't go to the practices (I had moved), and that I wouldn't be doing the half time show. My college didn't have a color guard, and I couldn't get one started. I still miss it. I miss the slap of the rifle on my
hands. The feel of the silk in my hands while at attention. The swoosh of the silk as it rippled through the air. The sound of the crowd when the big toss was caught. I miss it all.
I still go back to my old high school and help them out. I did it a few weeks ago. It helps me relive those times that I was on the field spinning. I know that I will continue to hold color guard in a special spot in my heart, and I will never stop doing it. I just wanted to let you all know how much I loved it.
À bientôt!
Photo creds:
banner,
guard girl,
irifle,
flag toss,
love,
Franco-American Life & Culture in Manchester, New Hampshire: Vivre La Difference by Robert B. Perreault
