12/30/2008 9:55:00 PM
Performing for the President
Francomb sisters will march with the Colts for Obama inauguration
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| Megan and Liz Francomb stand in their uniforms. The Colts season usually goes all throughout the summer, and takes the participants all over the country. |
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| Elizabeth, Molly and Megan Francomb will perform with the Dubuque-based Colts Drum & Bugle Corps for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Here the three take a break from this past summer. This was the first year all three were full-fledged Colts members. |
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by Jay Dickerson
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Barack Obama will be sworn in as U.S. President.
And three girls from Elizabeth will be there.
Liz, Megan and Molly Francomb, daughters of Peg Francomb, will be three of more than 150 members of the Dubuque-based Colts Drum & Bugle Corps performing at the inaugural parade of the new President.
The Francomb girls first saw the Colts perform in 2002. After that, they knew they wanted to join the organization. Liz, 20, and a student at Western Illinois University, was first to join the Colts, playing the trumpet.
All three started out as Colts Cadets. Prospective Colts members audition each year-because you were a full-fledged Colt last year doesn't necessarily mean you automatically are guaranteed to return.
The three Francomb girls first marched together as Colts in 2008. Performing as a Colt takes a commitment of an entire summer. The Colts season begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through August, with months of practices, and performances throughout the country. Performances will be all throughout the Midwest, California, Texas, Canada-and, of course, now Washington, D.C. "It's fun," explained Liz. Being away from home can get difficult, and the practices themselves can be particularly grueling.
But there is the excitement of performing. After the Colts announced they were performing for the inauguration, every member of the 2008 Colts received notification they could go. They've all had to fill out participation surveys, and receive a sort of security clearance.
Because of the heavy snowfall and icy conditions, a practice in December was cancelled. The three aren't sure what the Colts will perform, although there is a rumor of "76 Trombones."
No matter the song, all three girls are preparing for the event.
Megan, 19, and a student at Illinois Wesleyan University, plays cymbals. Assuming all three audition and make the Colts in the upcoming season, it will be the last year all will be together. Liz ages out when she turns 21.
"I'm definitely going to continue doing Colts," Megan said. "I can't find this kind of performance anywhere else." Megan served as section leader, and hopes to continue this season.
There are more than 140 Colts on the field at the shows. Do the sisters ever see each other on the field?
"That's very rare," said Liz. During a show the sisters may pass each other, but for the most part, once the Colts are in practice or performance mode, they rarely see each other.
Molly, 16, and a junior at River Ridge High School, performs in the color guard. She said that learning a color guard routine for a song takes less time than the musicians learning the song itself. But the physical challenge of performing a show is perhaps more dangerous.
This past summer, Molly injured her foot on tour in San Antonio, Texas. After returning home, the band director offered to fly her to a show; she didn't realize the foot was broken, until she received the results of an MRI.
Knowing that she wasn't going to perform with her sisters was devastating. "I called them every single day," Molly said.
She did get to see her sisters perform at the end of the season. But it was a tough break to accept. When the sisters weren't practicing or performing, they were often together during the "off" hours. They'd share an air mattress, or have lunch together.
True, the three all made good friends outside their sisters. But it was different, having a sibling there to talk to.
Now, foot healed, Molly's ready for the trip to the inauguration. There is nothing like performing in front of an audience as a Colt. Liz and Megan both remember the final show of the year. After the performance, the director asks the collected Colts to raise their hats if they've just had their best show of the year.
At the last show, each of the Colts did.
With Liz aging out, this will be the last year all will be together. Megan hopes to continue performing until she ages out as well. "I'd like to stay at least until Megan ages out," said Molly. And even without her sisters there, she could see herself continuing in the Colts tradition.
"It is awesome to have my sisters there," said Molly.
"I've had the best time of my life in Colts," said Megan. "I've met the best friends I ever had there."
Liz agreed. "They are like family."
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