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Band plays at Butler Memorial Hospital

Melina Jack stands ready to perform with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday.

Jonah Mechling, a 10th-grader at Butler Senior High School, normally sees his parents after their shifts in the radiology department at Butler Memorial Hospital.

On Wednesday, Mechling's parents saw him a little earlier in the day than usual as they spotted his alto saxophone in the parking lot.

The high school band traveled to the hospital during the lunch hour to play some songs in support of health care workers and their patients.

Jonah said after the two performances that he saw his parents smiling.

“They have been stressed out over the past few months, so it felt good because I know how hard they are working,” Jonah said. “I saw my dad, my mom was watching from inside, so that was good enough.”

Dozens of hospital employees went out to the parking lot when they heard the sound of horns, woodwinds and drums blasting classic pop tunes.Some watched from the windows of the hospital, and the band played a set in the front and back parking lots, so everyone who couldn't come out could hear and see them play.

Jeff Kroner, band director at the high school, said Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White initially asked if the band could march to the hospital in a show of support, but the band traveled by bus to play instead.Kroner said he and the students know health care workers who are stressed from their work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they all were glad to perform a special show for them.

“A lot of our kids, their families work here and we've even had some that have come through COVID and had been taken care of here,” Kroner said.“This was for the patients and the staff; the ones who could sneak out during their lunch did, but the ones who couldn't, they knew we were here.”Hospital employees danced and even sang along to songs such as “Hey Baby” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” which was the kind of response the band wanted, according to Kroner.

“I don't think they knew exactly what to expect because it was something brand new,” Kroner said. “I think they know they were doing something really special, so I can't wait to hear the murmuring on the buses and see what they felt.“We just wanted to do our part to lift up these amazing people.”

Kathy Selvaggi, chief community health officer at Butler Memorial Hospital, went outside to hear the band play. She complimented the band to people around her, and said it was a nice gesture for everyone working at the hospital.“Everyone is just working so hard,” Selvaggi said. “We're so glad the band came to show their support for the people working here.”

Marisa Shaffer and the Butler dance team perform with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Marisa Shaffer and the Butler dance team perform with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Bridget Feczko (front) , Marisa Shaffer and the Butler dance team perform with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Memorial Hospital staff were treated to a performance by the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band on Wednesday.
Majorette Maddy Albert performs with her batons and Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band trumpet players perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members — including, at left, Adam Bergbigler and above, Payge Kirmeyer — perform Wednesday at Butler Memorial Hospital. The performance was, in part, to honor hospital staff for their tireless work.Photography by Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle
Breanna Birckbichler and members of the flag team perform with the Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Payge Kirmeyer and members of the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band play at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Band member Erin Rinaman waves to hospital staff during the performance.
Marisa Shaffer and the Butler Sequinettes dance team perform with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday.photography by Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle
Butler Memorial Hospital staff watch the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band perform Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Trevor Coyle (center) and members of the Golden Tornado Marching Band perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band trumpet players perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Hospital staff watch from the windows as the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Drummers Skylar Miller (left) and Trevor Coyle (right) perform with the Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Members of the Golden Tornado Marching Band walk around Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday between performances at the front and back of the building. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Aleah Bednarz and members of the dance team perform with the Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Halee Gilson stands ready to perform withthe Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band trumpet players perform at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Majorette Maddy Albert performs with her batons and Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Miranda Gall and members of the Butler flag team perform with the Golden Tornado Marching Band at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Above, Butler Memorial Hospital staff watch Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members perform a special show. At right, Majorette Maddy Albert performs with her batons. “This was for the patients and the staff; the ones who could sneak out during their lunch did, but the ones who couldn’t, they knew we were here,” said Jeff Kroner, band director.
Butler Memorial Hospital staff watch the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band perform Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21
Majorette Maddy Albert performs with her batons and Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band members at Butler Memorial Hospital Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/13/21

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