Video of Spartan Marching Band playing "Amazing Grace" as tribute to Patrick Fleming

Submitted by gebe659 on

I'm sure most people here know about the tragic death of Patrick Fleming, the trumpet player for the UMMB.  This tribute was referenced here:

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/ot-gained-lot-respect-spartans-year

... and I wouldn't be surprised if it was posted somewhere within another Patrick Fleming thread, but I'm not going to dig through the different topics and I figured this deserves a thread of its own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4hi7iNB3To

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StephenRKass

October 3rd, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^

What a sad tragedy. I'm sure it was a total, numbing shock for members of the MMB. It reminds us that we never know when life will end. And what a classy and heartfelt tribute from the Spartan marching band. The rivalry and competition are great, and a fun thing. But at the end of the day, you set aside your differences. Their choice of songs is poignant as well:  focusing on God's Amazing Grace, that God loves us just as we are, no matter who we are, no matter what we've done.

Here are the lyrics to the song they chose to play in honor and remembrance of Fleming. They were written by a man who early in his life was a crewman and then captain on a slave ship, something he suffered guilt about through the end of his days, and someone who understood forgiveness.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

Joined: 07/15/2008

MGoPoints: 23006

Baldbill

October 3rd, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^

Nice, I like having a nice rivalry with another school. This was a very classy/nice way to respect the guy and the rivalry. It isn't all about hating your rival.

 

 

Joined: 04/09/2009

MGoPoints: 7988

ClearEyesFullHart

October 3rd, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^

The lack of publicity leads me to believe that this is a genuine gesture.  I never thought that the words "spartan" and "class" could co-exist in the same sentence.  But there it is.

Joined: 09/09/2011

MGoPoints: 2756