In our world of Drum Corps...........we have the opportunity of meeting many special people. Such is the case with a very exceptional Cadet Corps member, Sergio Reyes. I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Reyes (Sergio's mom) and Sergio at the first Cadet Corps camp earlier this year and she shared the story of her son's accident and details of his love for life and music. I know his story will touch you as it did me.

In July of 1998, Sergio was in a very serious accident that left him without the full use of his left arm, hands and fingers. He suffered several injuries, too many to mention, which he sustained while driving back to his Marine base in Yuma, Arizona after visiting his home in Riverside, CA. His injuries were so severe that he was hospitalized for an entire month and underwent numerous surgical procedures to reconstruct his arm and hand, transfer muscle tissue and graft skin.

The accident did much more than the injuries to his body; it destroyed his hopes of ever playing music again. He had always loved music and considered it a very important part of his life. Sergio learned to play the Saxophone in the fourth grade and had always been active in music programs while growing up. Now he was unable to rotate his forearm, his arm muscle was completely torn and he was unable to move his fingers independently. Sergio's playing and music future looked very dim.

The next seven months were spent in physical therapy and the Marines gave him a medical discharge in May. Now Sergio's future was even more uncertain as a result of his disabilities. Through it all, his love for the music (that he was no longer able to play) remained in his heart.

But life always gives us more chances...a new door opened for Sergio and it was suggested he learn to play the trumpet. He didn't need the fingers on his left hand to rotate the valves on a trumpet. His left hand could actually hold the trumpet and he could use the fingers on his right hand to play the notes. A good friend of Sergio's, Troy Campbell, told him about Vanguard. Troy was a member of the A Corps and encouraged Sergio to learn to play the trumpet and to audition for Vanguard. Seeing the window of opportunity and realizing he could still continue to play music, Sergio along with Troy came to the 1999 Vanguard auditions in November. He played his heart out at the audition and continued to return until the cuts were made.

Sergio was not selected for the A Corps however, he was given an opportunity to march with the Vanguard Cadets. He was still very excited because music was a part of his life again. Sergio said "I wasn't expecting to make it at all. I just wanted to go for the experience, but they let me in the Cadets. I'm so happy because I'm playing music again and so proud to march in the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets."

Well, as fate would have it, on Wednesday, August 9th, 2000, Sergio was given another gift. His dream of reaching the Drum Corps International Finals became a reality and he along with his proud Cadets Director George Brown, Staff, and Corps members marched on to the Finals competition and emerged as DCI Division II Champions. They had defeated their good friends and biggest competitor, The Mandarin's from Sacramento, California along with the rest of the other talented Corps from the US and other countries. They also placed seventeenth in the top twenty-one defeating a number of open class corps including the Troopers.

Best of all, they got to perform for the DCI Open Class Finals on Saturday, August 12th. They even got to share the evening with the A corps. Two corps representing Santa Clara at the DCI Championships. Wow! They made history! What a special gift of a year for Sergio and our Vanguard Cadets!

Congratulations, Sergio, for never giving up and especially to your mom, Jessica, for being there to support you. You have a lot to be thankful for! Congratulations to Cadets Director George Brown, Staff and all of the Vanguard Cadets on such a Fantastic Win!

Note: Thank You, George for your vision, hard work and especially for having a staff who encouraged Sergio and all of the Vanguard Cadets to experience and realize their dreams. Congratulations to A Corps Director, Rick Valenzuela, A Corps Staff and A Corps members on their outstanding performance and placing at DCI. You are all winners!!!