JCM’s band of alumni, students play for final time

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — For the final time, the Jackson-Central Merry High School marching band performed Friday afternoon.

The handful of JCM students were accompanied by nearly 40 alumni who said they wanted to give a proper sendoff to their school.

“I think when the final decision actually went down it just gave us more of an ‘umph’ and more of a reason to do this,” JCM Class of 1985 member Diana Dementski said. “Plus, it kind of gave an added sensitivity to the reunion.”

And their final song choice, “Through the Years,” features songs from their championship performances dating back nearly four decades.

Of the 50 band members from JCM at the Strawberry Festival, they said whenever you graduated, in 1976 or 2016, the feeling is going to stay the same.

The JCM band family was there to represent their school.

“We learned a lot about life while we were in band,” JCM Class of 1986 member Ken Hartley said. “We learned about excellence. Those lessons carry with you throughout the rest of your life. And then coming back together, you realize those lessons didn’t leave you. They stayed with you, and we’re seeing it right now. The pride is still there.”

“It’s sad, happy, just a lot of emotions in one,” JCM junior Carrington Branch said. “It’s going to be tears of joy and sadness, so it’s bittersweet.”

“We’re there for the same purpose,” JCM Class of 1985 member Bryan Collins said. “For the exact same thing, the same reasons, the same heart, the same soul, everything — it’s the same JCM.”

“At first it’s like ‘we’re JCM, we’re going to be forgotten,'” JCM freshman Keith Townsend said. “But as this is the last year, the band director, Mr. Lewis, said he wants to go out with a bang, and I’m pretty sure this is the bang he wants.”

JCM’s band members tell WBBJ they’re having a banquet Saturday night to watch old performances and remember the program through the years.