Sumner Council Celebrates Spartan Marching Band

With a reputation for excellence both in musicianship and performance, the Sumner High School Band added one more piece of recognition to its collection Monday during the regular meeting of the Sumner City Council when it was awarded a key to the city and recognized by proclamation as an official ambassador for the city of Sumner.

"You're a treasure in this town," said Mayor Dave Enslow to band leader Joe Carl and the students sitting in the audience.

Carl was quick to spread the recognition around to his young musicians along with other students, athletes and faculty at the school, plus parents and the greater community at large for supporting the program.

He dubbed the strong support network "a perfect storm" to ensure the program's continued success and also thanked Ellen Carl and the school's Color Guard for their contributions. "Our success would not be anything without her," he said.

"I feel great for the students because I know they know they're appreciated," he said. "Sumner's just the greatest town to be able to do this kind of stuff in... I'm very proud to accept this and very proud to be the band director of Sumner High School."

Below is the full text of the proclamation:

Whereas, the Sumner High School Band is Nationally Recognized as one of the finest high school bands in the country, and

Whereas, Mr. Joe Carl has spent 21 years developing an unparalleled band program at Sumner High School, devoting thousands of hours during evenings and on weekends to not only support all manner of High School and Community activities, but also to provide an avenue for his students to excel and grow in their musicianship, and

Whereas band members’ “season” spans the entire year, resulting in an extraordinary time commitment, and

Whereas the parents, who comprise the Spartan Band Association work tirelessly year-round to provide funding, equipment and supervision allowing The Band to represent our community in such a broad array of venues, and

Whereas The Band adds to Sumner’s small town charm with its regular practice sessions on the streets throughout our neighborhoods, and

Whereas Excellence is contagious and The Band’s influence extends throughout the culture at Sumner High School, creating an atmosphere of achievement rarely seen and fostering Community Pride through its able representation throughout the Region, and

Whereas The Band is a legitimate FORCE on the field and court, fostering excitement with its spirited play and antics and lifting our High School athletes to a higher performance level, and

Whereas the Supreme Compliment was paid to The Band when an SPSL opponent petitioned the WIAA to not allow The Band in the gym, and

Whereas the Star Spangled Banner never sounded better than when performed by the Sumner High School Band, setting a tone of Excellence and Pride for all present, and

Whereas one could go on and on and on about this Amazing Band.

Now Therefore, Be it Resolved that the City of Sumner, Washington hereby recognizes the Sumner High School Band as its Official Ambassador and does on this day award a Key to the City to Mr. Joe Carl, its devoted leader.

Prescribed into Law this 15th day of April, 2013.

Mayor David Enslow