Can you go home again? I did.

Some people say you can't go home again. Some say you can. In my life I have said both. Currently, I believe you can. Let me explain:
I am proud of many things. I am proud that I am a child of God. I am proud to be married to Sheyna, and to be the father of Levi and Sophie. I am proud to be the son of Clarence and Ruth Widener. I am proud of my nephews being saved, baptized, and that one is soon going into the Army.
I am also proud of the four years I spent in the Hibriten High School Band. For four years I played euphonium in that group, and was part of really a special tradition. It was one of the first things I truly learned to apply myself at, and learned to strive to be the best. During my time there I was all-district four years, first chair all-district two of those years, and first chair junior & senior year. I was privileged to get to play with the US Navy Band my junior year, and in three of our four years the HHS Band received Superior ratings at "contest," a judged festival of bands in the district.
Enter Facebook. An alumnus of HHS started a group on the site for Hibriten High School band alumni. being the proud member I am, I joined. Several memories have been shared from members on that site that graduated from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and in the past decade. We have kept up with the current band, discussed issues facing the band, and have garnered ways to support it.
I'm not sure how this came about, but this weekend a project came about called "Loving Lenoir 2011." I do know that much of it was due to the efforts of  Dr. Neal Isaac. Tonight, alumni are gathering reunion-style at Sweet T's in uptown Lenoir. Some gathered to do some community work today. Tomorrow there will be a concert featuring many former Hibriten students, including an internationally-renowned soprano.
For me, the highlight was Friday night:

30 or so members of the past got to join the current band for the homecoming game, playing in the stands. It was quite a thrill to be a part of it. We marched in the stands with the band, played several songs, and cheered our old school. Sadly, we did not cheer them to victory, but it is a rebuilding year.
It was nice to know that I somewhat still had it. It was nice to see old and young alike come together for the old school. It was just a banner memory that I will never forget.
Thanks go out to Dr. Isaac for the time he has put in with the Facebook group and for what he did in setting this up. Thanks to Nickey Horner, director at HHS, for letting us do this and for all the accommodation she made for us. Thanks to Kevin Townsend, former director, for first agreeing to this. Thanks to Stephanie Lee, president of the HHS Band Boosters, for all the work she put into this. I don't know who else was involved, but if you read this, thank you as well.
One last thing: things are not the same as they were in our day at HHS. The band does not receive the funding that it used to, and instruments are not in the same condition that they were in. The band has needs for equipment and upgrades that require outside donors and support. If you are able to donate to the band, send anything to Hibriten High School Band Boosters, 1350 Panther Trail, Lenoir, NC 28645, or call (828) 758-7376 for more information.