Beckie

Sometimes an event changes people.  When Curtis died there were many people that were touched by his sacrifice.  One brave young woman in my life made a drastic change in her life because she felt it was what she needed and wanted to do.

Beckie is my niece.  She has a degree in music education and played taps, beautifully I may add, for Curtis at his burial.  With so many budget cuts over the last several years, a music position is hard to find.  Beckie relocated from Rochester to Tucsan, AZ for her first job.  She walked into a bit of a bees nest when she got there.  The former instructor had not prepared his students in their respective instrument, and she felt she was way over her head as a first year teacher.  Without the support of parents or even other teachers, she felt lost and alone.  While visiting a friend one weekend an old idea came up again.  Her dream of being part of a military band.  She had thought of it several times in high school and throughout college, but never acted on it.  After playing taps for such an emotional event, she wanted to join to relive that honor and pride again.  After passing the audition, she told me she would have never passed it out of high school because it was so difficult, it's no wonder the military bands are elite. 

Beckie didn't audition for just any military band, she is going to be part of the Marine Corps Band.   As a female vet myself, I was able to prepare her for the 'boys club' she was about to enter, or at least try.  I am so proud of her, to follow a dream, knowing there are risks, no matter how great or small.  She is in boot camp now and I wish her luck, I know she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.  Dave and I will welcome another Marine into the family with pride.