Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. at Fitch High School's Dorr Field is the 9th Annual Sounds by the Sea Marching Band Competition. Eleven bands from two states for one incredible night of the marching arts. Please come and support, cheer for and encourage all the amazing student-musicians.

If you come to the show, you will notice an empty bench under the scoreboard. That represents the importance of each and every member of all the marching bands that will be present. In marching band, nobody sits the bench. Each member has equal and valuable importance to the ensemble as a whole. Everyone in the band has to be able play the music and march because the show is not complete without every last member. Not one member gets left behind making marching band the highest caliber team possible, a family.

Although the students performing on our field are from different schools and wear different uniforms, each one has the love of music in common. We applaud the efforts of each musician and wholeheartedly support the marching arts.

Larry Grundy

Groton