Middle Township U.S. Army Drum Major Passes Torch

WHARTON – The U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Band announced that 2009 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band Drum Major Christine Norton of Middle Township has passed the band shako, symbolically anointing Jaclyn Turner, of Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill, S.C., as the 2010 All-American Marching Band Drum Major.
The passing of the shako took place in front of 25,000 fans at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Lucas Oil Stadium. This event is known as “Marching Music’s Major League.”
The DCI World Championships Class and Open Finals was Aug. 8.
The entire event began Aug. 5 with the individual and ensemble competition.
“The U.S. Army has a long and distinguished musical history,” said Col. Derik Crotts, Director of Marketing, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “The mental, physical and emotional qualities necessary to be a successful musician are the same qualities mirrored in Army Strong Soldiers. We are proud to honor all of our U.S. Army All-American band musicians and congratulate Jaclyn Turner on her selection as the 2010 All-American Marching Band Drum Major.”
Now in its third year, the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band features the 97 top marching musicians from across the United States and 24 All-DCI color guard members from Drum Corps International’s elite member corps.
The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band consists of students who exhibit exceptional musicianship, marching achievement, character, and leadership prior to their high school senior year. Students must be active members of their high school band from the time of the nomination through the final performance at the All-American Bowl.
The U.S Army All-American Marching Band performs during the halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The 10th Anniversary U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be played January 9, 2010, at the Alamodome in San Antonio and broadcast live on NBC.
For ten years, the U.S. Army All-American has been the nation’s premier high school football game, serving as the preeminent launching pad for America’s future college and NFL stars. Last year the U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew over 32,000 fans to the game at the Alamodome along with being the most watched sporting event on television over the weekend, besides the NFL Playoffs.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is owned by SportsLink, a New Jersey-based sports marketing and event management company. Other national sponsors of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl are Russell Athletics, San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, Choice Hotels, Maxwell Football Club, BeRecruited.com, Rivals.com Schutt Sports, EAS, Athletic Republic, Deloitte, Gatorade, NCSA, and Football University.
The U.S. Army Accessions Command, headquartered at Ft. Monroe, Va., is charged with providing integrated command and control of the recruiting and initial military training for the Army’s officer, warrant officer, and enlisted forces. Designed to meet the human resource needs of the Army from first handshake to first unit of assignment, the command transforms volunteers into Soldiers and leaders for the Army.
For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and its related events visit www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com & www.goarmy.com/events/aab.