In the fall of 2008, as a Freshman Band Mom, I became friends with Anita Mancini whose daughter Nicollette Riccio was a junior in the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. Anita wore a pair of Blue & Gold cloisone earrings to every band competition that I truly admired. Anita and I always joked about my wanting the earrings when Nicolette graduated.
After Nicolette's final performance, Anita gave me a small white box conatining the earrings and wished more good luck to be passed on to the band as I wore them to the competitions my son partcipated in. After the 2011 Marching Season for the band, my son, Will decided to leave the band during his junior year, and not return as a senior. Even though I was not a "band mom" this year, a certain sense of pride in these kids will never leave me, and the true friendships that have been formed will last a lifetime.
This fall, to begin the 2012 season, I decided it was only fitting to pass them on to my dear friend Carole Alsever for her son Skyler's final year in the band for his senior year. I relayed the story to Carole, and she was so proud to wear the earrings. Carole and I unanimously decided on a new freshman band mom to pass this tradition onto, and that we would do so at The Thanksgiving Day football game after the band's final half time show of the season.
Once a Band Mom, Always a Band Mom, and Anita Mancini was at EHHS to see the band perform with her daughter, Nicollette. I asked her to be with Carole and I as we passed the earrings on.
This year, the traditional earrings have been passed on to Gina Falt. Her daughter Anna is a freshman in the Yellow Jacket's pit percussion. The slogan of the band has always been "Where We Go One, We Go All" and it holds true to the band moms as well.
Gina has promised to carry on the tradition with the Blue & Gold Dangles when Anna is a graduating senior and will wear them with pride.
