<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">WHAT A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Actually, it’s a tribute to Mr. Rogers and
your nephew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I was sorry to hear that he did not play
when he graduated from college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or did he. </font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Did he give up the violyn completely , or
did he continue to play while he did all those other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">What is he doing today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The piece included all his
accomplishments. </font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Maybe you didn’t have to include all of
them, </font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">but I don’t know which ones I would have
left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Nicely written.</font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Thank You, Mister Rogers</font></span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">by Alice Jane-Marie Massa</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When
I was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal essays,
documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated about some
non-school to-do items. One of my regrets of that procrastination period
is that I never wrote a thank-you letter to Mister Rogers while he was still
living. My family and I certainly owe more than a note of gratitude to
this quiet, mild-mannered man who taught so many children so much.
Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave the gift of music to my younger nephew
and, thus, to my family and especially to me.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television program <i>Mister
Rogers’ Neighborhood</i></font><font size="3"> in March of 1988, when Mister Rogers was telling
his audience about the wonderful musical instrument—the violin. On that
program, the friend in the Neighborhood was the renowned violinist Itzhak
Perlman. As soon as Eric watched this inspirational segment, he shouted
to his mother (my sister): “Get me a violin! Get me a violin
teacher! I want to take violin lessons!” </font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
One week after Eric’s introduction to the violin—thanks to Mister Rogers—my
younger nephew asked his mother, “Have you found a violin teacher for
me?”. Within one week my sister arranged violin lessons with Hei-Ling
Yeung, who played the violin with the Denver Symphony and the Colorado Springs
Symphony. At this very young age, Eric had found his instrument; learning
by means of the Suzuki method, Eric quickly could play a number of tunes on his
sixteenth-size violin. Since that smallest of violins sounded like a toy
to Hei-Ling, Eric promptly advanced to the eighth-size violin. As Eric
grew and his musical skills progressed rapidly, he moved from the eighth-size
violin to one-quarter, one-half, three-quarter, and finally a full-size violin
for the teen-ager who was also playing high school football when he became an
Eagle Scout.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
Eric’s lessons eventually evolved from the Suzuki method to reading musical
notation. In the third grade, Eric played the violin on stage for his
elementary school’s talent show. From this young age onward, he never had
butterflies: he enjoyed being on stage. Not only was he musically
gifted, Eric played his instrument with expression. As a result of his playing
for the talent show, a teacher suggested that he try out for the Junior Strings
of the Front Range Youth Symphony (Arvada</font><font size="3">,
</font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">). From fourth
grade through all of high school, Eric was a member of this outstanding musical
group—most years, as first violinist. During this period of developing
his musical talent, Eric progressed from the Junior Strings to the Chamber
Strings, Symphonic Strings, and finally the Front Range Youth Symphony.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> </font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3">WAS HE IN THAT GROUP FROM THE 4</font><sup><font size="2">TH</font></sup><font size="3">
GRADE?</font></u></b></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
While Eric was in the Chamber Strings, he was one of three musicians selected
to join the Front Range Youth Symphony to perform at Disney World’s Magic Music
Days. Then, the group’s tour continued on a Disney Cruise. With the
Front Range Youth Symphony, Eric, at age 13, performed at the Nassau Town Square</font><font size="3">,
in the </font><font size="3">Bahamas</font><font size="3">.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
While Eric was in the eighth grade, his grandpa (my father) very unexpectedly
died at age 84; of course, we all were extraordinarily upset. Although
Eric had played his violin so many times for our family, I wondered if we
expected too much of him to perform at the funeral service, under these
circumstances—when he was at such a vulnerable age and when he had never before
attended a funeral. Despite this overwhelming loss—Eric managed to play
on his violin two pieces for his beloved grandpa.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
During my nephew’s freshman year, he was chosen concert master of the Symphonic
Strings. Not only did his musical abilities expand, but also he had
opportunities to develop leadership skills.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
The entire family was so proud of Eric when he was selected concert master for
the Front Range Youth Symphony’s 2001 tour of Europe</font><font size="3">.
After playing for a nursing home and an </font><font size="3">International</font><font size="3">
</font><font size="3">School</font><font size="3"> in </font><font size="3">Munich</font><font size="3">,
</font><font size="3">Germany</font><font size="3">—the Front Range
Youth Symphony performed a magnificent concert in an old church in </font><font size="3">Heidelberg</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Germany</font><font size="3">.
While Eric’s dad was a chaperone for the entire European tour, my sister flew
to </font><font size="3">France</font><font size="3"> for the youth
symphony’s performance in </font><font size="3">Luxembourg</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Gardens</font><font size="3"> in </font><font size="3">Paris</font><font size="3">.
After an emotional visit at </font><font size="3">Normandy</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Beach</font><font size="3">, the symphony members gave the final
performance of this European tour at </font><font size="3">Mecklin</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Belgium</font><font size="3">—the sister city of </font><font size="3">Arvada</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">.
This remarkable experience increased Eric’s leadership skills and instilled in
him a love for travel.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
Shortly after Eric returned to the United States</font><font size="3">, his grandmother (my
mother) passed away on July 3, 2001, at age 87. Although my mother had
lived her final three years in my sister’s home in </font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">, we were confident that Eric could
play his violin for his granny’s funeral mass. Of all the times I have
heard him play his violin, I have never heard him perform more beautifully and
expressively than when he played at </font><font size="3">Sacred</font><font size="3">
</font><font size="3">Heart</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Church</font><font size="3">,
in </font><font size="3">Clinton</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Indiana</font><font size="3">—the “Ashokan Farewell” for my
mother. After the funeral and the dinner at our home parish, we convinced
Eric to return to the church so that a few of us could hear Eric play the
“Ashokan Farewell” once more. Once was not enough, so I sometimes listen
to an audio recording of his playing the emotional piece. </font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
When Eric turned the tassel on his mortarboard at his high school graduation,
he turned away from his dedication to the violin and followed other
pursuits. Besides being graduated from Colorado</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">University</font><font size="3">
with a degree in history, he was a member of the CU triathlon team.
Before joining the Army, he completed two Iron Man events. During his
five years in an Army airborne unit, he served eleven months in </font><font size="3">Iraq</font><font size="3">, became an Army Ranger, and served three
months in </font><font size="3">Afghanistan</font><font size="3">.
Now, he still serves in the National Guard. “Macho Men” do play the
violin—just not as often as this aunt would like.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
In June of 2013, when my cousin, my guide dog, and I went to Michigan to visit
Eric, his wife, and their three-day-old baby girl, I was especially pleased to
take to his new home both of his violins—his school violin and his concert
violin. Seven years later, Eric and his wife have two children: in
addition to Lanie, Caden, who will soon celebrate his fifth birthday, may one
day have the hand that holds the bow--precisely like their daddy did.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
Thank you, Mister Rogers, for 32 years—and counting—of precious music.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Number
of words: 1089</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"># #
#</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Thank You, Mister Rogers</font></span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">by Alice Jane-Marie Massa</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">When
I was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal essays,
documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated about some
non-school to-do items. One of my regrets of that procrastination period
is that I never wrote a thank-you letter to Mister Rogers while he was still
living. My family and I certainly owe more than a note of gratitude to
this quiet, mild-mannered man who taught so many children so much.
Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave the gift of music to my younger nephew
and, thus, to my family and especially to me.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television program <i>Mister
Rogers’ Neighborhood</i></font><font size="3"> in March of 1988, when Mister Rogers was telling
his audience about the wonderful musical instrument—the violin. On that
program, the friend in the Neighborhood was the renowned violinist Itzhak
Perlman. As soon as Eric watched this inspirational segment, he shouted
to his mother (my sister): “Get me a violin! Get me a violin
teacher! I want to take violin lessons!” </font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
One week after Eric’s introduction to the violin—thanks to Mister Rogers—my
younger nephew asked his mother, “Have you found a violin teacher for
me?”. Within one week my sister arranged violin lessons with Hei-Ling
Yeung, who played the violin with the Denver Symphony and the Colorado Springs
Symphony. At this very young age, Eric had found his instrument; learning
by means of the Suzuki method, Eric quickly could play a number of tunes on his
sixteenth-size violin. Since that smallest of violins sounded like a toy
to Hei-Ling, Eric promptly advanced to the eighth-size violin. As Eric
grew and his musical skills progressed rapidly, he moved from the eighth-size
violin to one-quarter, one-half, three-quarter, and finally a full-size violin
for the teen-ager who was also playing high school football when he became an
Eagle Scout.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
Eric’s lessons eventually evolved from the Suzuki method to reading musical
notation. In the third grade, Eric played the violin on stage for his
elementary school’s talent show. From this young age onward, he never had
butterflies: he enjoyed being on stage. Not only was he musically
gifted, Eric played his instrument with expression. As a result of his
playing for the talent show, a teacher suggested that he try out for the Junior
Strings of the Front Range Youth Symphony (Arvada</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">).
>From fourth grade through all of high school, Eric was a member of this
outstanding musical group—most years, as first violinist. During this
period of developing his musical talent, Eric progressed from the Junior
Strings to the Chamber Strings, Symphonic Strings, and finally the Front Range
Youth Symphony.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
While Eric was in the Chamber Strings, he was one of three musicians selected
to join the Front Range Youth Symphony to perform at Disney World’s Magic Music
Days. Then, the group’s tour continued on a Disney Cruise. With the
Front Range Youth Symphony, Eric, at age 13, performed at the Nassau Town Square</font><font size="3">,
in the </font><font size="3">Bahamas</font><font size="3">.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
While Eric was in the eighth grade, his grandpa (my father) very unexpectedly
died at age 84; of course, we all were extraordinarily upset. Although
Eric had played his violin so many times for our family, I wondered if we
expected too much of him to perform at the funeral service, under these
circumstances—when he was at such a vulnerable age and when he had never before
attended a funeral. Despite this overwhelming loss—Eric managed to play
on his violin two pieces for his beloved grandpa.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
During my nephew’s freshman year, he was chosen concert master of the Symphonic
Strings. Not only did his musical abilities expand, but also he had
opportunities to develop leadership skills.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
The entire family was so proud of Eric when he was selected concert master for
the Front Range Youth Symphony’s 2001 tour of Europe</font><font size="3">.
After playing for a nursing home and an </font><font size="3">International</font><font size="3">
</font><font size="3">School</font><font size="3"> in </font><font size="3">Munich</font><font size="3">,
</font><font size="3">Germany</font><font size="3">—the Front Range Youth
Symphony performed a magnificent concert in an old church in </font><font size="3">Heidelberg</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Germany</font><font size="3">.
While Eric’s dad was a chaperone for the entire European tour, my sister flew
to </font><font size="3">France</font><font size="3"> for the youth
symphony’s performance in </font><font size="3">Luxembourg</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Gardens</font><font size="3"> in </font><font size="3">Paris</font><font size="3">.
After an emotional visit at </font><font size="3">Normandy</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Beach</font><font size="3">, the symphony members gave the final
performance of this European tour at </font><font size="3">Mecklin</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Belgium</font><font size="3">—the sister city of </font><font size="3">Arvada</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">.
This remarkable experience increased Eric’s leadership skills and instilled in
him a love for travel.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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Shortly after Eric returned to the United States</font><font size="3">, his grandmother (my
mother) passed away on July 3, 2001, at age 87. Although my mother had
lived her final three years in my sister’s home in </font><font size="3">Colorado</font><font size="3">, we were confident that Eric could
play his violin for his granny’s funeral mass. Of all the times I have
heard him play his violin, I have never heard him perform more beautifully and
expressively than when he played at </font><font size="3">Sacred</font><font size="3">
</font><font size="3">Heart</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">Church</font><font size="3">,
in </font><font size="3">Clinton</font><font size="3">, </font><font size="3">Indiana</font><font size="3">—the “Ashokan Farewell” for my
mother. After the funeral and the dinner at our home parish, we convinced
Eric to return to the church so that a few of us could hear Eric play the
“Ashokan Farewell” once more. Once was not enough, so I sometimes listen
to an audio recording of his playing the emotional piece. </font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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When Eric turned the tassel on his mortarboard at his high school graduation,
he turned away from his dedication to the violin and followed other
pursuits. Besides being graduated from Colorado</font><font size="3"> </font><font size="3">University</font><font size="3">
with a degree in history, he was a member of the CU triathlon team.
Before joining the Army, he completed two Iron Man events. During his
five years in an Army airborne unit, he served eleven months in </font><font size="3">Iraq</font><font size="3">, became an Army Ranger, and served three
months in </font><font size="3">Afghanistan</font><font size="3">.
Now, he still serves in the National Guard. “Macho Men” do play the
violin—just not as often as this aunt would like.</font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
In June of 2013, when my cousin, my guide dog, and I went to Michigan to visit
Eric, his wife, and their three-day-old baby girl, I was especially pleased to
take to his new home both of his violins—his school violin and his concert
violin. Seven years later, Eric and his wife have two children: in
addition to Lanie, Caden, who will soon celebrate his fifth birthday, may one
day have the hand that holds the bow--precisely like their daddy did.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
Thank you, Mister Rogers, for 32 years—and counting—of precious music.</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Number
of words: 1089</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"># #
#</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">_______________________________________________<br></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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