I have an addition to your Tribune Thumbs dated July 8. I’d like to add a huge thumbs down to band directors who make their band members march in triple-digit heat indexes in full uniform, such as was the case with both band directors at the Third of July Parade.

We witnessed one band member go down in front of us from the Albert Lea band, and they hadn’t marched a quarter mile from the start. New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva had two band members end up in the ER.

One student came in by car, the other by ambulance. One had to have two bags of IV fluid to rehydrate her and the second had to have one bag.

There is nothing wrong with putting those students in khaki shorts and a golf shirt for marching in parades during warm weather. They are judged on their music, not how red their faces are. Even the University of Minnesota marching band wears shorts in the summer time.

 

Joel Radjenovich

Clarks Grove