Stadium lights were being overpowered by the low sun and the cloudless clear sky framed the empty, towering bleachers behind the band. The chatter of the packed crowd weaved through the field like a strong gust of wind. The noise died down into a thin silence as the announcer began his introduction of the Big Blue Marching Band.
Hours later the Manhattan High’s Big Blue Marching Band had received a Superior ranking in their performance at the Central States Marching Band Festival on Saturday, marking another year with a score of I. The MHS band competed with around 40 other schools attending the festival. The first performances started at 11 a.m. and stretched on until 10 p.m., when rankings were given out to the individual marching bands. The Big Blue started their performance at 6:45 p.m.

“This year’s theme is a tribute to the military,” band director Joel Gittle said. “We call it, ‘Home of the Brave.’”
Their festival performance was a singular movement, featuring a medley of the themes of the United States Military’s main branches. Normally, performances follow the structure of multiple movements. “Home of the Brave” was a non-stop show that kept its movement.
While playing, sections formed images for each anthem. Synchronized, first there was an airplane for the Air Force. Then, anchors to represent the Navy. A chevron for the Marines, and finally, a star for the Army. The colorguard team had different objects to represent each branch and held them tall during each transition.
“These songs have been around for hundreds of [years],” band director Nancy Monical said. “To be able to put a picture… you can’t always do that very well with a show, and to be able to do the different pictures to help represent the Armed Forces unit that we’re using, it’s a fun moment because nowadays a lot of shows are lines and curvilinear… You get to put propellers on a plane. Nobody else was doing that.”
The significance of this performance was felt throughout the crowd. Those who had served, and are currently serving, stood up proudly as their branch’s theme played.
“Being a town next to Fort Riley, we have a lot of military families,” drum major , junior, said. “I myself am a military kid. I’d say at least 50% of the band is.”
As Gittle’s last year directing the MHS Big Blue Band, retirement was in mind as he and his wife, Jeri Gittle, coordinated their last show in the festival. Design of “Home of the Brave” started in January, concepts and their meanings were thoughtfully developed throughout the months. Each drill was meant to hold significance and pay tribute to those who are meant to be forever honored for their service.
“A lot of my family served. I’ve got aunts and uncles who served in all branches. I’ve got grandparents who served,” Gittle said. “I have very close family friends who served. One of our assistant band directors is a veteran of the Air Force.”
Military influence is everywhere in life, appearing subtly in everyday interactions. Tributes like “Home of the Brave” bring welcome, honorable appreciation to the branches of the military.

“I think back to my grandpa, who was in World War Two,” Monical said. “[I also] think of my son. He went into the Navy and I know what they went through and I know it wasn’t easy, and I know there were challenges.”

Thoughtful and vigorous hard work went on behind the scenes, with the first practices of the show occurring in band camp, weeks before school started.
“We worked really hard to produce our show,” senior drum major Agnes Choi said, “and I think we did our best.”
As the performance drew to a close, the band came together one last time.
“We’ve gotten to know each other so well,” drum major Piper Schrag, junior, said. “And I think because of that, we’re able to perform really well and play as one.”
A heartfelt rendition of “Taps” played. A heart was formed, as blue colorguard flags waved in the wind. Near the center of the heart, a sole red flag soared high with a purple heart marked on its top right corner.
“So at the end, we decided,” Gittle said, “we kind of want to pay tribute to those who served and never came back from maybe a war, or just gave the ultimate sacrifice. So we formed the heart. Had the Purple Heart be significant for the Purple Heart for the injured.”
Off to the side of the band, a Dazzling Blue Dance team member falls to her knees, grieving with a marching band helmet in her hands, plume tousled in the draft as she raises it. A red cloth is wrapped around her shoulders and she lifts her head as the song ends. This scene depicted a wife searching for her husband after a war and finding that he died in action.
“I saw my dad cry in the audience,” Day said. “My sister is deployed right now in Poland. It means a lot to everyone in this band. Even if our country doesn’t make the best decisions, it’s not up to the soldiers, and we should love them.”
The next big piece the MHS Marching Band’s will perform will be the Veteran’s Day parade on Nov. 11 at Poyntz Avenue.