>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Once again, we're amazed and impressed with the hospitality and good will of

La Grande High School students, staff and football fans.

The Astoria High School Marching Band made its second trip to Eastern Oregon last week to march in the Pendleton Roundup parade and share a halftime show with the LHS band at Friday's football game. Band director Jim Howell and the LHS students opened their band room, their bleacher seats and their homes to us and accommodated our travel schedule.

Although our band is tiny, the football fans were respectful and most of them stayed in their seats to watch us perform. The cheers from the crowd afterward made the long bus ride worthwhile.

Students from both bands spent the rest of the evening together at The Rock, and then several LHS families hosted the Astoria students overnight. We've heard nothing but positive comments about the experiences.

As graduates of La Grande High School ourselves, we felt very proud of the way this school district values its arts programs. It was also gratifying to see that the band is still considered an integral part of the home football games and is able to balance music and sports so that students can take part in both.

We would welcome the LHS band any time they wanted to take a tour to the coast. Go Tigers, and go band!

Tom and Kathleen Strecker,

LHS alumnus and Astoria Marching Band staff Astoria