What an honor it was to help so many of you experience the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band’s trip to Normandy, France, earlier this month. I’m taking the liberty of thanking you all directly, here, for your views, comments, shares and engagement with the “Origins of Opportunity” project, documenting the band’s transformative experience.
Not long after the announcement of the band’s selection as the nation’s musical ambassadors during D-Day commemorations, we realized that an even bigger story was waiting to be told. It was the multi-faceted story of our University. We are an institution created as a service to returning veterans who had begun, in the months after D-Day, to set their sights on the future and its opportunities. Our institution was propelled by the founding vision of Bonnie Cone, who established our enduring value to provide access to opportunity for all deserving students. And it would be the story of our current students, the young women and men who are among the thousands to descend from ‘Bonnie’s Boys,’ and who will be the bridge to carry “The Greatest Generation’s” legacy into the 21st century.
In February, at the peak of an exceptionally active academic year, our University Communications team began weekly sessions to map out the project's website and to plan the centerpiece video documentary that we would shoot in Charlotte and France and produce in a matter of days in early June, to stream on D-Day itself. Personally, in more than 30 years of working in communications, this was the most satisfying experience in teamwork and beautiful story-sharing.
If you haven't seen the documentary, or haven't fully explored the website, visit normandy.uncc.edu and prepare to be amazed by our students, and by the 80 members of our University community who shared their own family war stories of loved ones who served in World War II.
Also enjoy some photos from the Normandy experience. This is our history, and it is alive and well.
- by Stephen Ward, Associate Vice Chancellor, University Communications
Several band-member interviews were conducted on campus prior to the trip to provide backup content in case of any insurmountable production challenges in France. Meg Whalen from the College of Arts + Architecture worked closely with students throughout the process.
We were grateful for the participation of alumni Gene and Vickie Johnson, leading supporters of the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band.
We met with Dave Bedford, superintendent of the Brittany American Cemetery, two days prior to the band's performance. With his help, we learned the story of Charlottean Samuel Peterson and were able to bring about one of the most moving moments in the project, with Army veteran and band member Curtis Chancy.
The performance segment we had envisioned at the Sainte-Mere-Eglise town square didn't quite work out as planned, given the joyous crowd that engulfed the band. But it became something much better when we captured band member Victoria Bracken's interaction with some of the WWII veterans.
Victoria Bracken fulfilled her mission each day as a musical ambassador, as seen here with a local child in Paris.
Cinematographer Harrison Hieb captured the flag planting on Omaha Beach, where it's said that even today, the sand contains 4 percent shrapnel.
Omaha Beach was among many visits that stirred deep, emotional responses.
Band members enjoyed meeting Helen Patton, granddaughter of Gen. George Patton.
Among the many unexpected stories was the engagement of two band members at the Eiffel Tower, which was a hit on social media.
In a park or on a bus, band members did what they had to do to stay fresh.
The University Communications team planning 'Origins of Opportunity' earlier this spring.
One of three hotel-room production stations in France.
The UComm content team reviewing material just in from France.
UComm's Nick Makansi prepares for the streaming documentary on June 6.
Producer-Director Steve Reynolds, Cinematographer Harrison Hieb and Stephen Ward take a break in Paris.