Daily page 1

September 19th--Kick off or send off day!

For those of us there--400 adults, teachers, and school students, it was a morning to remember and treasure forever. The feelings and excitement reverberated throughout the Wahoo High gymnasium. I'm sorry for those of you who missed the occasion. Jerry Johnson did a fabulous job of putting together the entire program. The music faculty, Eric Schneider and Julie Baker Anderson had their snappy bands perform, Theater Arts did an energetic number from "Grease" and the madrigal group sang a touching rendition of the Stars Spangled Banner. Christie Miller and Jerry MC'd the program which included the reading of a special proclamation from Governor Heineman that included much information about the purpose of our gathering separated by WHEREAS which had the help of the kids and others in the audience and the closing statement that September 19th was officially proclaimed "Patricia Starr Day" across the state of Nebraska. How honored I felt! The Governor was unable to attend as he was in Washington D.C. but we had the honor of having his mother, Irene, in attendance. She was introduced to the crowd along with Gabriel and Tony Aitken who will be my bicycling escort on the road to Atlantic City. I had a chance to rock the house with my "Boogie Medley" piano solo to the delight of the crowd.

Gabriel and I presented an oversize copy of the check we were donating to insure that two scholarships will be given out in the spring--a $500 scholarship to a deserving vocal senior and another $500 one to a deserving instrumental student. After this, we hope the donations of love and caring from friends, family and businesses will sail the scholarship into perpetuity.

And that wasn't all. When the program ended, we gathered outside the gym, the marching band led down the street with Tony and I following pushing our bicycles and the rest of the kids following after. I felt like we were in the movie "The Music Man". The kids kept changing places and coming up to talk to me, touch hands, and everyone was having so much fun. After parading down the street for several blocks, the kids turned around to go back to their classes and the rest of the procession led by police escort, our decorated van with signs and stars all over it, Tony and I, Jerry and Arlene Johnson in their 1947 Red Fire Engine and other cars led us to Highway 77 where they turned to the left while Tony and I continued on down Highway 77. We stopped by Ceresco to see the Heyen family, continued to Lincoln where angels who had read our story in the Lincoln Star Journal led us through Lincoln on bicycles and then said goodbye at Highway 2.

The Press that had gathered at the school were not disappointed--what a spectacular occasion! The Omaha World Herald, Wahoo Newspaper the TV stations from both Omaha and Lincoln had an opportunity to produce some "feeling good" news for a change.

As we proceeded to Nebraska City, our first night stop, Pam, part of our team was trying desperately to find us a motel rooms but to no avail as it was Apple Jack weekend. The town celebrates the founding of Arbor Day as it originated there, having been started by the Morton family. As Pam called the Chamber of Commerce for help, they suggested she call Joan Dawson, who has owned The Apple Core for many years and she graciously invited us over to her home for dinner and the night to stay in her gorgeous 1888 refurbished home. I even had a chance to perform for Joan and her friends Doc Gigstad and his lovely wife on her beautiful antique piano.

What a day to remember!