Community "Bands" Together to Support BMR Chargers Marching Band

OCTOBER 10, 2014, BLACKSTONE, MA… There is a saying in the Blackstone Millville community, that it takes a village to raise a marching band. It’s a spirit at the very core of the district’s award-winning music program, and it is alive and well today.

For more than 35 years, the Blackstone Millville Regional (BMR) High School Chargers Marching Band has been actively supported by parents, community members and local businesses. On October 9th, these groups revealed their latest project as the newly designed tractor trailer truck pulled into the parking lot of Blackstone Millville Regional High School. The Blackstone Police and Fire Department escorted the truck with flashing lights and sirens to celebrate its arrival at BMR, where current and past band alumni, parents and community members greeted the new arrival with cheers and applause.

The truck is owned, operated and maintained by the parent-run non-profit group Blackstone Millville Music Association (BMMA). “We consider ourselves very fortunate to have a tractor trailer to transport props, equipment, uniforms and instruments to the shows all around New England and beyond. It’s because of the band parents who came before us and their rich legacy of community spirit that we do,” said John Stefanik, President of BMMA.

And now, thanks to the support of area businesses, the truck has a fresh new look, commensurate with the championship status the Chargers have achieved over its 30 year history.

A Labor of Love

The BMR Chargers were one of the first bands in the region to have a tractor trailer truck. Its purchase can be credited to the vision of a small group of band parents active with BMMA in the late 1990’s “We used to be a little rag-tag army,” said Sue Trinque, a long time member of the BMMA, “Arriving at shows with several “box” trucks and 2 trailers to haul all of our equipment, props and uniforms.” It was her husband Bob’s idea to purchase a trailer to consolidate and safely transport all of the equipment for the band. Led by Mr. Trinque, a small team researched the purchase, and BMMA President Mike Fizer and Vice President Sue Trinque personally co-signed for a loan to make their vision a reality.

Ed Collette found an affordable trailer for sale, and he and Bob Trinque drove to Maine to make the purchase. “They returned with this structurally sound, but sad looking box,” said Sue Trinque with a smile. “That’s when the pit crew came together to create a work of love. The women became weekend widows while their husbands got to work. They scraped that box down to the bare walls. Bob installed hooks and belts to secure equipment. Richard Beauregard custom created racks for the uniforms. And Ivan Sobers took on the job of sanding, staining and applying urethane to the floor.” Other workers included Al Budd, Paul Jacques, and even some band students. Recalls Mrs. Trinque “Mike McCall was so excited with the project, he purchased special caps for the pit members to wear.”

Deb Budd worked for a company who donated all the graphics, featuring purple and gold flags featuring the towns’ names. And after several months, BMMA’s tractor trailer was revealed to cheers and applause. Band parents and students alike were proud to be known as “the band who had their own trailer.” “We drove to competitions and made quite an impression, beginning the trend that we now see with other bands having trucks,” said Mrs. Trinque.

Ed Collette was the first driver until his daughter graduated, at which time Bob Trinque took over. “Our son had already graduated, but Bob could not wait to drive that truck,” said Mrs. Trinque. “When the truck driving job was offered, he proudly accepted, and held for several years. At competitions, he gave tours to other pit crews. He never left it during shows. No one was going to harm that labor of love.”

A Special Dedication

Sadly, Bob Trinque passed away in July, 2007. But BMMA made sure that the man’s legacy would always be remembered. “One day during band camp, I was called and asked to come in to answer some questions,” said Mrs. Trinque. “I was confused, because I had not run the camp for years, but I went to BMR to see how I could help. (BMR Fine Arts Director) Buddy Bibeault approached me, and began talking about how special Bob had been. Suddenly, I noticed that the kids had stopped playing. And then Pit Crew leader Steve Gill, perched on a ladder, reached over and pulled a cloth from the front of the truck, unveiling Bob’s picture and the words coined by Kim Gill, ‘Bob Trinque- He always led us in the right direction’.

On October 9th, the truck was rededicated to Mr. Trinque by Mr. Bibeault, who said in part “Bob had a vision to provide something better, a vision which was grounded in his love for our kids, our music program and our community. But Bob’s gift to the band was greater than this wonderful vehicle. His real gifts were his spirit and the example he set of community pride and dedication. These are values which still underpin our organization today and will continue in his footsteps far into the future. For that, we thank him, and dedicate this truck, forevermore, to his memory. “

Mrs. Trinque, affectionately known as “Mama Trinque” by the band family for whom she continues to volunteer and chaperone, accepted the framed dedication and thanked the crowd. “I know Bob is watching this gathering of old friends and new friends, and he is so pleased to see us carrying on.”

A New Look, But the Same Valued Traditions

Mrs. Trinque notes that over time, many true and lasting friendships were born among BMR band parents. And that is a tradition that continues today, as band parents, alumni, community members and local businesses continually band together to support the BMR Chargers’ continued success.

“Our tractor trailer remains a point of pride for the band,” says BMMA President John Stefanik. “It’s not only an important asset—it is a symbol of how our community continually works together to support our kids and our outstanding music program.”

BMMA takes great care to maintain the trailer and keep it in top operating condition, with the help of its pit crew, led by Wally St. Amant, and the support of local business such as Hamel’s Tire Center of Cumberland, RI, The Tire Doctor, of Blackstone, MA and Hi-Way Towing & Recovery of Upton, who provides both the tractor and a driver to BMMA. “Their services have been a tremendous asset and provided a significant savings, so that we can focus our financial resources on our kids and their instruction” said Mr. Stefanik.

In planning for this year’s season, it was noticed that the truck needed some sanding and painting. That’s when the vision for a re-design came to life. Over a series of weeknights and weekends, the pit crew gathered at BMR to scrape, sand and paint the truck until it looked like new, just as their predecessors had before.

Lenny Cerundolo, a band parent and Production Manager at LSI Industries had full support of management and dedicated associates when he proposed the idea of updating the trailer. Jamie LaForest, owner of LaForest signs has a daughter in the BMR band family and happily stepped up to be a part of this effort. Graphic Designer Todd Adams of Shrewsbury, the colleague of a board member, donated his time to create a fresh, new design for the truck, featuring music notes, the Charger horse and the school’s purple and gold colors.

“Thanks to the help of these sponsors, the BMMA tractor trailer will remain a point of pride for the band,” said Mr. Stefanik, “As well as a symbol of respect for the work of the parents before us, thanks to whom we have it.”

The truck may have a fresh, new look, but the BMMA and the BMR Chargers will always retain its important traditions. For example, each graduating class of seniors signs the interior panels of the truck to celebrate their last season with the Chargers. It will also proudly feature the sponsors who keep the band moving with their donation of funds and services. And of course, the image of Bob Trinque will remain, featured prominently on the front of the truck, always leading the Chargers in the right direction.