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By Ken DeLaat
As hundreds gathered along the streets of Newaygo to praise their achievements, the triumphant victors were led through town by police vehicles and fire trucks blasting their sirens.
The welcoming parade honored the Newaygo High School Marching Band for bringing home the school’s first state band championship and its first state title in anything for more than two decades.
“You just showed everyone the size of the school doesn’t matter,” Band Director Don Barnett told the jubilant musicians who poured off the buses to the cheers of parents and other supporters. “It’s the size of the heart.”
“Congratulations on a great performance and becoming the state champs,” Barnett added.
The Marching Lions edged out Godwin Heights, Belding and the fourth place Grant High School band to win their first ever state title. After performing well at several area events, the Newaygo band was ranked at the top of the state standings heading into the Michigan Competing Band Association state finals held at Ford Field in Detroit.
Band members drank in the moment as their camaraderie was evident with hugs and high fives.
“I can’t even describe how it feels,” said Megan Garvin.
“The best possible way to end the year,” added Aleia Wright.
“I couldn’t picture what winning would be like,” said Tyler Franks, “but now I know what how it feels and it feels great.”
“It’s incredible to be part of a state championship,” said Forrest Lord.
“For the rest of your life you’ll remember this feeling,” added Barnett. “You’ll remember that if you want something and you work harder than everyone else, it will come to you.”
The band and their fans cheered, then Barnett asked about the medals they received for their hard-fought success.
“We do everything as a group, so I’m asking you now, on Monday do we wear the medals at school or not?”
“We wear them!” his band shouted.

Photo by R.C.Wheater Sr.
With Vietnam War veteran Mike King (left) presiding over the unveiling, World War II veteran Rober Frederickson removed the covering to reveal the display honoring Newaygo students who served in World War II.

Newaygo Heroes' names given a more prominent place
By R.C.Wheater Sr.
A year ago, U.S. Navy veteran Mike King was picking up his granddaughter at Velma Matson Upper Elementary School in Newaygo when he noticed, hanging in a dark hallway, a listing of World War II veterans.
King, a 1968 graduate of Newaygo High School who served in the Vietnam conflict, asked about the possibility of moving the veterans’ names to a more prominent place. The building housed Newaygo High School from 1926 to 1963, and the names were apparently posted there many years ago, before the present high school building was constructed.
A year after noticing the list and asking about it, King presided over the unveiling of a new plaque listing 162 Newaygo students who served in World War II. Along the way, the project led to the discovery, renovation and redisplay of a bronze plaque listing six Newaygo students who died in the war: William Fink, William Edwards, James Coutts, Allan Loomis, Roland Overley and Raymond Minogue.
King asked Bob Frederickson, a World War II veteran whose name appears with the 162, to remove the covering and unveil the plaques during the Thursday afternoon unveiling.
The honor guard from VFW Post 4249 in Newaygo provided a rifle salute on the school lawn.
Upper Elementary School Principal Steve Bush suggested that the plaques be displayed in a sun-lit spot just inside the school’s main entrance. Bush said that he will also challenge students to further develop the spot.
Awards and More of Fremont made the new plaque and Postma Monument of Newaygo handled the reconditioning work on the memorial plaque. King said that he was pleased with the results.
“I did it for the veterans,” King said. “We owe them so much.”
King also thanked school Superintendent Larry Lethorn and the people of the VFW Post for their help with the project.
“It’s historic for us,” Lethorn said at the unveiling, “and it’s something our students need to understand.”