Bloomington, Ind., June 1, 2011 -- Star United honored the memory of Star of Indiana founder Bill Cook at a memorial gathering on the campus of Indiana University on June 1, 2011. The event was attended by members of the Cook family and numerous local and state dignitaries, fellow Cook Group employees, and the general public.
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Star United begins the memorial ceremony honoring Bill Cook at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington, Indiana on June 1, 2011. Image captured from indiana.edu |
The Cook family specifically asked that Star United begin the memorial event that consisted of comments from friends and family as well as musical performances by John Mellencamp and an orchestra consisting of IU music students and faculty.
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Star United's Rebcca Saddlemire conducts the corps as they perform their signature piece "When You Wish Upon a Star" to begin the Cook Memorial. Image captured from indiana.edu
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Star United performs "When You Wish Upon a Star." Image captured from wthr.com.
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Rebecca Saddlemire was the first speaker at the Cook Memorial event. She recounted Bill's close involvement with the membership of Star of Indiana with heartfelt comments and anecdotes. Image from indiana.edu
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Rebecca Saddlemire, inaugural member of the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps has been closely involved with the organization throughout its entire history, currently serving as the drum major for Star United. Saddlemire offered some poignant remarks about Bill and his family's close involvement with the membership of the corps through the years. The remarks highlighted the positive impact that resulted from Bill's son Carl's involvement with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps and how his sharing of the drum corps activity with his father forever changed the lives of thousands of people in a positive way:
“For twenty-five years, we have been so blessed to have been on the receiving end of Bill and Gayle’s kindness and generosity…In 2010, a two-year long labor of drum corps love came to fruition when the Star Alumni Corps performed at DCI Semi-finals. It was an amazing night celebrating what would have been twenty-five years for Star of Indiana. And the greatest honor was finding Bill and Gayle in the audience and dedicating our performance to them live…Our world is a kinder and better place because of Bill. We are all kinder and better people because of his love for us.”
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Josh Talbott conducts Star United's performance of Elsa's Procession to the Cathederal performed at the request of the Cook family. Image from indiana.edu
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Bloomington native and Bill Cook's friend John Mellancamp provided an acoustic performance during the event. Image from indiana.edu.
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Bill Cook's son, Carl speaks about his father, but is interrupted briefly by his daughter Eleanor. Carl had just received the Sachem Award from Governor Mitch Daniels. Image from indiana.edu
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Special thanks to the Cook family for allowing Star United to participate in this tribute to Bill. Special thanks also to Josh Talbott for his efforts in coordinating the event, Avon High School for providing additional instrumentation, and to the following performers who represented Star alumnae everywhere:
| Star United Cook Memorial Performers | |||
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Trumpets Frank Sullivan Larry Powell Brian Frederick Ed Cooning, IV Shane Conner Dan Goldman Brad Poredo John Hughes Dan Hubbard |
Mellophones |
Baritones |
Tubas
Percussion
Conductors Rebecca Saddlemire Josh Talbott |
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