Vanguard Memories
Debbie Baudoin (1984)
My most vivid memory of the Vanguard was performing in the mud for MBA in Houston. I will never forget how it felt to look up into that huge stadium crowd, feel the adrenaline pumping, and know beyond a doubt that I had given the best I had to give. I still have nightmares about lugging that contrabass clarinet, hastily repaired with tape and rubber bands, onto the stage for my final senior concert. (It broke again, btw, three bars into La Fiesta Mexicana, and I just faked my way through the rest of the concert.) But the best memories of E.D. White's Cardinal Vanguard were the friends I made - Geralyn Scott, Craig Biondo, Phil Barnidge, Elaine and Claire Daigle, Cindy and Kathy Morelli, Sue, Michelle, and Robbie Bordelon, anyone with the last name "Shanklin," and so many more. These were the people I hung out with on a daily basis, and the source of so many good memories for me. While I no longer play the clarinet (some might say I didn't play it WHILE I was EDW), and my
flag twirling skills are less than polished, I still carry with me the lessons learned all those long afternoons on the practice field. I'm glad the Vanguard is still marching strong, and I cherish the memories of my 5 years as a proud member. Debbie Baudoin - Phoenix, AZ
Alycee Matherne - Band Captain(2000/2001)
I can specifically remember the day before I started 8th grade. The band was very different back then. As a welcoming gesture, our director, Ms. Collins, arranged for the band to have a small, informal social in the band roon. We had had practice that afternoon, and after that we went into the band room, music was put on, and we had snacks and talked to all of our new friends. It was a blast. I only hope that all of the band members that are involved with the vanguard after me can have such wonderful experiences as these. We really had a blast!!! Those were the good old days
Shaun Gravois (2001)
Wow, it's funny to say that I'm an alumnus of EDW, but I finally graduated from that place, so I have the right to say that :P Band was really fun back in the day, and some of my fondest (not necessarily greatest) memories come from band. I remember cutting up all the time with my best friends Desi, Justin, and Ben. I even remembered Matt Casse's aforementioned shaving cream incident (I was in that suite!). But the thing I will always remember from the Cardinal Vanguard was the time that I marched right over Ms. Collins. She was sitting in the middle of the field, and I backwards marched right on top of her! That's the funniest thing I ever did in the band, and I will remember that for the rest of my days.
Gibbens Robichaux (1947)
More information from the oldest living band member (I think), here are some follow ups. Brother Bernandine, who directed the band in the mid-40's passed away at the age of 90 in Metuchen, New Jersey. The soprano sax I talked about before was donated to the Bayou Community Band Saxophone Quartet, refurbished and is used periodically. It was appraised at $1,700. One like it can be seen played often on the Lawrence Welk Show on Channel 12 at 6PM on Saturday nights. By the way, Mr. Welk loved march music and recently played Under the Double Eagle and Stars and Stripes Forever on his show.
Laurie Battaglia
That cheering section with poms and banners at every performance. Winning outstanding color guard at the Hammond contest. BOA finals performance in the Houston regional. The trip to Mexico City...performing on a television show and a police academy..we autographed the arms of some of the officers!
Upon returning to the Vanguard as choreographer of the colorguard in 1992..winning outstanding guard at the Louisiana Showcase of Bands.
Mary Vicknair Wise (1983)
So many wonderful memories...8th grade band camp...what a rush! Marching to New World Symphony and Bellavia. Winning the Bayouland Classic. Marching to the theme from Superman. Our "In the Stone" routine...the tubas were awesome! Marching in the mud in Houston at MBA. Marching over the colorguard members as they lay on the ground...pretty cool! Being Drum Major. The Greatest Love of All. All the band trips and after school practices. Towels soaked in ice-water and spirit of ammonia. All the hard work and laughter. My heart thumping before each performance, and the suspense of waiting for the ratings. The great sense of pride and accomplishment.
The Mission was the theme of the 1996 Cardinal Vanguard marching show. It was truly one of the most moving shows ever. The Seniors of this year were in 8th grade and performed in that memorable show. There is some correlation between this year's show and that memorable show of 1996. I asked Keith Ledet, an alumnus and the designer of both shows to explain it, and this is what he wrote:
The rock and waterfall are from "The Mission" show shirt. A couple of the seniors asked that "The Mission" be considered for this year's show. (They were 8th graders when the band performed "The Mission") I took this idea to thought and prayer to give it consideration. Although it may be possible for the band to technically play the show better than the first time it was performed, there are moments in a show that can only be captured for that year or for that show. Those moments should remain in the history of the band. The moment that was created during the performance of "The Mission" was one of the most gripping and sacred departures that the band has ever left, as they carried the cross off the field. Every time it was done, the crowd was touched, somehow knowing it was a sacred and Godly moment. I remember at the Northwestern festival, the applause decreased and as the band left the field, the stadium was silent. One could hear a pin drop. It was considered , however, to use a piece from "The Mission", in order to bless the seniors of this year, yet refrain from even trying to recapture the "The Mission" moments. That is how "Off to Foreign Soil" was included in this year's show. The rock has a similar representation as it did on "The Mission" shirt. On "The Mission" shirt, the rock represents the foundation rock that Jesus speaks of in the gospel (Matthew 7:24-27). On this year's shirt, it represents the foundation rock the band is built on...the traditions that were and have always been a part of the band as far back as when everyone on staff were members of the band. The senior students of this year and last year depart from the band knowing it's foundation is back on the solid ground that has always made the band program a success. Tradition, Excellence, Character-These are qualities that the director daily imparts into all the members.
Thank you Keith for that beautiful insight into the ties between this year's show and "The Mission".
Wayne J. Riche (1966)
Band President, head of percussion section, "Top Ten Award," receiving the John Philip Sousa Award and a music scholarship which paid for my college.
William H. Robichaux (1972)
Band Captain. Our band director, Al Leblanc's halftime show started by forming the letter "R" to honor Gibbens Robichaux (1947), composer of the Alma Mater; however, the leg of the "R" was five yards off to the right. Mr. Leblanc's quick wit presented the formation as "the band has formed a Russian letter R to honor Mr. Robichaux's ancestors."
Grant Gravois (1976)
Grand Champion at Deep South was a great memory, but the hard work and fun to get there were the greatest memories. How can we forget Band Camps? Was this worst than boot camp? That proves the old saying, "if Band were any easier, they would have called it football."
John E. Leblanc (1977)
Fall of 1976, going out on the field of USL contest to pick up the trophy. All of our hard work had paid off.
Chris E. Rodrigue (1977)
Senior Class Representative. All the road trips to festivals, especially USL and Tulane Stadium; battling the Acadiana Band!
Tim Robichaux (1979)
All of the wonderful trips including Disneyworld and Mexico City. The greatest thrills were the marching festivals where we battled all of those so-called "Big Bands". The most memorable festivals for me were the 1976 USL Contest of Champions where we were Reserve Grand Champions, the 1978 USL Contest of Champions where we place 3rd, and the first Bayouland Classic where we were Grand Champions beating the likes of Acadiana and Thibodaux High.
Todd Rodrigue (1982)
Senior Rep. Marching in the prelims of the Marching Bands of America contest in Houston, the mud, Top Drumline, etc.
Deanna Miller Landry (1985)
Twirling my flag in the mud at MBA in Houston and being rewarded for it by winning outstanding flags.
Amanda Drinkwater (1987)
Fifth Place at MBA in Houston in 1983. The transition from Easton Lebouef to Jim Reiss in 1986. The standing ovation in Sulphur Festival in the fall of 1986.
Maria P. Hebert (1994)
Field Seargant, section leader, Freshman Rep. The crowd shouting "E.D. White" while waving flags, pom-poms and signs at competitions.
Matt Casse (1998)
Whoa, I have so many great memories. It would be impossible to list them all. Oddly enough, I think the memories that stick out the most come from 8th grade. The show that year, "One Nation Under God" was totally awesome and by far my favorite show. I got to hold up this big banner in the middle of the field. We received superiors at every festival and we were awarded Reserve Grand Champion at USL. I remember for one of the road trips, the air conditioner on the coach bus was broken. It grew incredibly stuffy in the bus until someone figured out how to open the windows. The idea worked great....or so it seemed. Unfortunately, the windows were not meant to be opened unless it was an emergency (though many of us considered the stifling heat to be a big emergency). Low and behold, one of the windows decided to detach itself from the bus while we were travelling at 60 mph down the highway. Amazingly no one got hurt. I guess we can thank St. Theresa for that one. Crazy stuff like that happened all the time right up to my Senior year at band camp. Somehow or another, my shaving cream can busted and spewed it's contents all over the dorm. You could have shaved everyone in the band twice with all that shaving cream and boy did it take a while to clean up. Needless to say, the good memories out-weigh the bad by a long shot, and all the hard work we put in always paid off. Well, even though I could write forever, I have to leave some room for everyone else's memories. Later!
Grant Toups (2000)
Band Captain, Outstanding Bandsman, Junior and Sophomore Representative, Brass/Low Brass Section Leader. Recovering and returning from a very low point in the history of the Vanguard to the proper prideful form that we all should expect and strive to maintain, placing 5th at USL after not even attending the year before, forming bonds with people whom we will never forget, and for the first time realizing that sometimes we have to suffer for the good of the group, finally we were part of something bigger than ourselves.
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