ColtsMomSqrd

DCI has indeed included the tragedy in their news segment. In a response I finally received from DCI this morning, they were asked to postpone the news until now. Apparently, they were the one source of news within the community that the Colts/families did not want to post their updates on these two young women. I was mistaken in my assumption that DCI was not being responsive. Please continue to send notes of encouragment for these young women and their families. When they are finally at home and settling in, the outpouring of love and support will be another step taken towards their recovering from this horrible loss.

Again, Kevin - you are the best! Thank you. I will send the request to them now.

I cleared it with the Colts before I made the e-mail requests to DCI. Perhaps they found it inappropriate. I haven't a clue, as I never received a response.

I have sent information to DCP, Drum Corp Wold, as well as DCI.org. Of all the websites, I would have thought they would have posted at least an announcement of her passing. Kevin at DCP has been amazing, and the individual I corresponded with from Drum Corp World has asked for an article with a photograph to be published in his next newpaper and then on the website. I'm extremely disappointed in DCI - they are very quick to make money by sharing the talents of these young people. I would have expected them to be just as ready to show their support for them.

Final arrangements for Bianca December 11, 2007 Greg Bianca Vocke 1990-2007 Both the visitation and the funeral will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2215 Windsor Avenue in Dubuque. Her final resting place will be Mount Calvary Cemetery, 1111 Davis Street in Dubuque. A funeral procession will accompany Bianca and her family to the cemetery following the service. There will be a lunch in Bianca's honor at 1 p.m. at the Eagles Club, 1175 Century Drive in Dubuque. Her mom, Jean, her step-father Jay and her father John Vocke invite all who knew and loved Bianca to join them for her farewell. Please send messages to the family for a keepsake of B to greg@colts.org. The Colt family, including returning members, staff and others who wish to attend the services on Saturday will be provided transportation to and from camp for the funeral, internment and lunch. Colts members, the family asks that you please wear your member shirts in honor of B. On behalf of her family, I thank you for all your support of B and her family through this ordeal. It has been a lifeboat for everyone and has helped a great deal. Flowers and memorials may be sent to the church. Peace. Greg Both Bianca's and Erin's families can use your help. Accounts are established for both families at Dupaco Community Credit Union, 3299 Hillcrest Rd., Dubuque, IA 52001, c/o Sue Hallahan. You may also mail your contribution to us at Colts, P.O. Box 515, Dubuque, IA 52004-0515 and we will get it to them. Checks may be made out either or both: Bianca Vocke Fund Erin Reichle Fund You can make a donation via the Colts Store, as well. Click here to make a contribution using your credit card on the Colts secure site.

I have learned several things that some of you may not be aware of - either through the Colts webpage and/or e-mail correspondence with Greg Orwoll. Bianca's mother has quit her job to be with B during this time; and the family has been living at the hospital for the past week. Please, while this beautiful young soul fights to find her way, bear in mind that her entire family is also trying to find their way as well. Erin and her family must also be going through their own special kind of hell. She is in for a long recovery, struggling to get stronger, while losing someone very close to heart. It is the holiday season, and I know that money is tight, but if at all possible, instead of that stocking stuffer, or that frivilous gift you were going to buy for a good laugh, send a donation to the funds set up for these courageous young women. Neither of them come from families of any great means. The Colts now have an active link to allow credit card donations to these funds on their website. www.colts.org. God Bless these families, and the Drum Corp family at large - it's time we all wear the uniform of humanity and compassion and pull together for our family.

We called our son today and reminded him how much we love him. We also wanted to be sure he was holding up OK as he was friends with Bianca. Please remember to tell your family members how important they are to you - and in that same vain, send what you can to help these families. Going through hell should not be made worse by financial worries. God Bless Bianca, and her family - both blood and the entire Colts Organization - they truly love one another.

Taken from the Colts webpage: "Bianca Vocke and Erin Reichle were seriously injured in a single car accident on Friday evening near Waterloo, Iowa on the way home from Des Moines. ...Please send your thoughts and prayers for Bianca to greg@colts.org and I will deliver them to her. Your messsages of support mean a lot and will help her recovery a great deal. The nurses were blown away when they saw the book full of your wonderful messages. We're also starting to get some very supportive and meaningful messages from the drum corps activity at large, too. Thank you! She could be in ICU for several more weeks, and there are many things that still have to go well, but she is doing better than expected in many ways. Knowing B, that doesn't surprise me at all. She's a fighter. There is a special purpose in life reserved for her, I have no doubt. Her surgery at Iowa City took 8 hours, she used 21 units of blood and the medivac pilot told her mom she wasn't sure she was going to make it to Iowa City. Yet, here she is! An update on Erin: Steff King, Senior color guard instructor, talked to her earlier this evening. She has three broken vertebrae in her back and a support rod has been inserted. She also had some other injuries that are responding well. She will have a long recovery, but she could be released by the end of the week. Thank god there are no signs of paralysis or nerve damage at this point. Please send your notes for Erin to me as well at the same address.

You need to consider Last Comic Standing next year - maybe audition in a Corp uniform. Thank you for the best review of the season, and the best laugh of the day!

OK, I'm getting old and forgetful - thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction!

I have noticed that people are not posting reviews of the show anymore. I've got a son in the Colts and we can't make it to a lot of the shows. I used to look forward to gaging the responses to their shows - good and bad. I usually pass them along to him when he calls. Does anyone have a review of the PA show they'd like to share?