During their August 2023 meeting, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees voted in favor of the following resolution honoring the Alabama School for the Blind Band.
WHEREAS, the Alabama School for the Blind (ASB) band made Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) history on July 8, 2023, by being the first ASB band to march in a parade at the International Lions Club Parade of Nations in Boston, Massachusetts, and
WHEREAS, in early 2022 the band accepted a nomination to represent Alabama Lions Clubs in the parade, and
WHEREAS, while the band carries a long tradition of participating in parades by riding on a float while playing, the students made the courageous decision to commit to accomplishing a new feat in school history, and
WHEREAS, the band took its first steps on the march toward making AIDB history by completing its first band camp during the summer of 2022 to learn marching techniques; skills they went on to display during halftime shows at Alabama School for the Deaf football games and the Birmingham Veterans Day Parade where they were the parade’s first band with members who are blind or visually impaired, and
WHEREAS, on July 3, 2023, the Alabama School for the Blind band traveled to Boston where they spent the week holding band practice each morning and seeing the sights in and around Boston each afternoon including a Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park and a tour of Salem, and
WHEREAS, on the morning of Saturday, July 8, 2023, in the heart of historic Boston, the Alabama School for the Blind gathered at Boston Common to line up for the parade, as the second group in the parade which featured over 150 floats, bands and participants, and
WHEREAS, the Alabama School for the Blind led the parade with the lively tunes of “Sweet Home Alabama,” “America the Beautiful,” “This is My Country,” and “God Bless America” echoing throughout the city’s historic architecture, and
WHEREAS, the Alabama School for the Blind band brought home the First Place prize in the International Lions Club Parade of Nations Division 1 High School bands category, and
WHEREAS, the Alabama School for the Blind band is comprised of: Justice Carter Ballard of Wetumpka, Cedric Caver of Talladega, Taelor Robinson of Birmingham, Clara Scelsi of Pell City, Andre Garrett of Huntsville, Zachary Glasgow of Albertville, Dalton Harris of Talladega, Jaxson Stephens of Alpine, Karsen Pate of Talladega, Carlie Kimble of Midfield, David Ventura of Montgomery, D'Shawn Shealey of Sylacauga, Latisha Jordan of Talladega, Shymiria Broadnax of Montgomery, Ny'Dariun Marshall-Jones of Monroeville, Clinton Sanders of Five Points, Rindarious Pollard of Sylacauga, Jaden Vallejo of Ohatchee, Jacquarious Tinniehill of Talladega, Kentavious Tinniehill of Talladega, Abigail Theiss of Valley Grande, Christopher Weaver of Talladega, Thomas Young of Pike Road, Shontia Weaver of Tuscaloosa, Brittany Gardner-Braxton of Gadsden, Nyzier Posey of Pineapple, Zoe Catoe of Gadsden, Cassidie Gorig-Worrell of Grand Bay, Daymion Winfrey of Talladega and Ricky Weaver of Tuscaloosa.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees congratulates the Alabama School for the Blind band for their extraordinary determination to break barriers and show the world what it means to be limitless and for winning the First Place prize in the International Lions Club Parade of Nations Division 1 High School bands category.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Band Director, Chad Bell, and the ASB band and a copy be spread across the minutes of this meeting.
Done this day, the 15th of August 2023.
