DEL.ICIO.USBand director has big plan for inauguration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, January 02, 2009
South Cobb High School Blue Eagle marching band director Zach Cogdill has another grand vision — now that the band is marching in President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural parade.
The band includes eight special needs students, including Devin Robinson, who was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease when he was 9. Devin, his hands guided by an assistant, gives the beat to the 95-member band on his tom-tom drum from the sidelines during football games.
CURTIS COMPTON/ccompton@ajc.com
Devin Robinson gets help from Katelyn Ayers playing drums for the South Cobb High School band.
For the inaugural parade on Jan. 20, Devin and his assistant will accompany the band while being pushed along the parade route in a distinctive vehicle.
That’s where the grand vision comes in.
“We’re trying to get outside a kind of homemade float for Devin,” he said. “For the eyes watching the parade coming down the street, I want them to say, ‘Oh, look at that cool car and the boy in it.’ “
Cogdill envisions a 6-foot-by-3-foot fiberglass or aluminum molded custom roadster that will accommodate Devin, now 14 and a freshman, and his assistant. It would be able to be pushed along the parade route easily by Devin’s father.
The vehicle must be a distinctive but unobtrusive part of the band’s formation and small enough to fit into the charter bus cargo bay to be transported to Washington.
The Blue Eagle marching band beat the odds to be selected to march in the inaugural parade, and the community has contributed $128,000 toward its expenses.
Cogdill is exploring ways to make this grand vision a reality — and time is quickly running out. The band leaves for Washington on Jan. 16, and he would like to have the vehicle by Jan. 13 so Devin, his assistant and father can practice.
He’s working all the angles to come up with ideas.
“In the meantime,” Cogdill said, “I’m going to dream big for Devin.”
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