DECATUR -- The drums set the cadence as the Decatur High School marching band made its first entrance into Bulldog Stadium in its brand new uniforms Sept. 11.
Coming from Peterson Gym, the Decatur band marched to the bleachers at Bulldog Stadium as fans and visitors began assembling for the Decatur-Marshall eight-man football contest, the first home game of the season.
During the May 2019 school board meeting, Jesse Owens, director of the high school music program, presented a design concept for new uniforms to replace the existing aging ones. The school board approved Owens' request and an order was placed for 35 new uniforms, which included pants, shirts, jackets and headgear.
Early in February, the uniforms arrived in Decatur. Soon afterward, the covid-19 pandemic shut down all schools in the United States and canceled all school events until further notice.
When Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Health Department released schools to open in the 2020-21 school year, the Arkansas Activities Association limited school functions to sports only, leaving the band members wondering if they were going to even start this year.
Within a few weeks, more and more school functions were released but with the same covid-19 guidelines of social distancing and wearing of masks. The masks presented a big problem for Owens and most band programs in Arkansas. Fortunately, the Decatur band program managed to overcome this hurdle in a very unique way.
With masks of sorts covering the opening of each instrument, coupled with a specially designed one for each player which had an opening big enough for the musicians to play their instruments, the Decatur band gathered at the 50-yard line at Bulldog Stadium and marched to the center of the field. With the drums beating the cadence once again, the band turned in step toward the bleachers.
For the first time this school year, the Decatur High School marching band played the national anthem. Afterward, they played a short version of the Decatur fight song before marching off the field again. The new uniforms gave the Decatur High School marching band members a new sense of pride in their appearance, which showed in their performance that night.
