GFF parade team needs help supporting bands

The outpouring of support and solidarity from high school  bands around the state for the St. James high school band have been terrific and numerous.  

The result is that many bands are making an effort this year to come to St. James to march with the Red Regiment Marching Band in the 77th Annual Grape & Fall Festival Parade.  The parade will be on Saturday, Sept. 11 beginning at 11 a.m.  The parade will form at the Missouri Veterans’ Home and will march from there, south on Hwy. 68 (Jefferson Street) to John F. Hodge High School.

As a response to all the e-mails, calls and internet messages, St. James Director of Bands Derek Limback has sent the following invitation to the many bands who have extended their messages of sympathy to St. James.  Here is his letter:

“Dear Band Directors,
I want to open by showing my gratitude to everyone for their support, concern, and amazing acts of kindness during my band’s time of need. I can’t express how deeply touched we are. We did not expect the entire nation to help us through this, but that is what we are receiving.
In moving on with the healing process and as a way to let people know how they can help us, I am trying to organize our second annual parade competition as part of our Grape and Fall Festival Parade. The St. James Chamber of Commerce has decided to hold this parade in memory of Jessica Brinker who died in our tragic highway accident. I have many bands already wanting to come support our band and community so we are hoping it will be a spectacular and emotional day. I am trying to figure out what the bands will do as either an opening or closing ceremony, but we are wanting to do some sort of mass band gathering and performance.
We will be running the parade as a competition again this year, but the classes may be different as some very large bands are tentatively coming and we usually have open class and cater to smaller bands only. We will change to a class system to keep the competition fair. There will be two judges in the categories of marching execution and music execution and they will provide written comments only. You can opt to be exhibition only if you wish to just come be a part of this experience. There is no entry fee for this parade and the town and band boosters will be feeding all band participants for free after the parade. The parade is very short. It runs from the Veteran’s home to the HS which is about five blocks. It is an honest to goodness parade with people lining the streets and cheering though.
If you are interested, please email me or call me with the following details:
1. Name of group
2. Number of people in your group (include support staff, etc)
3. Will you be staying for lunch (free)
4. Contact information for the directors and school
5. Number of buses and support vehicles.
6. Anything else my absent mind has forgotten!
I want to thank everyone one more time for your amazing support. I hope to see you at the parade, but if not, I will see you or talk to you soon!”
Derek Limback Director of Bands, St. James Schools

Assistance is much needed from our community to host these bands the day of the parade.  Following the parade, they will continue to march to the football field three blocks south of the high school.  Once at the field, they will move into formation, and each band will play in turn.  A couple of numbers with all band groups participating on the field will be the grand finale.  

Following this performance, grilled hot dogs, burgers and drinks will be served to the kids at no charge.  Volunteers are needed to assist with parking, greeting, cooking, and serving the hundreds of kids who will be participating.

Funding is also needed for the food to be served.  If you would like to contribute, donations may be sent to the Community Development Corporation, St. James Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 358, St. James, MO 65559.  All donations received above the actual expenses incurred for the meal preparation will go directly to the St. James Band Uniform Fund in memory of Jessica Brinker.

If you have further questions, contact Johanna MacPherson, Chamber of Commerce GFF Parade Chair at   johannamacpherson@gmail.com or phone: 573-263-3650; Or the Chamber of Commerce office by emailing jennie@stjameschamber.net or  phone: 573-265-6649.