Jon "Chilli Dog" Roberts

I remember meeting Michelle for the first time, shortly before tour with the Crossmen in 1990. Such a pretty girl was my first impression. I think the corps has pretty much picked our seats and might have gone on a short trip right before tour and if memory serves Michelle had to finish high school and missed out? Such a long time ago. One of my buddies asked what I thought of asking her to ride the drum bus. The shy guy in me thought "I'm not doing it", but I propped up my buddy and convinced him it was a good idea. He asked her and to our surprise she said sure. Little did we know that the perky rookie with the great smile was perfect for the drum bus. When Michelle's dad Rod showed up to be our truck driver that was a surprise to say the least, but we fell in love with him too. Truth be told I was a bit scared of Rod for a few years, but still a great guy. That summer was blur and I do remember a few good talks with her. More than likely she gave me some good advice concerning finding a girlfriend or

something....mostly kid stuff and drum bus shenanigans, It was my age out year and she was one part of a fun summer. My real memories of Michelle come later. She continued to march and then be on staff. Every year I counted on seeing her at a camp or two or maybe on tour when I visited the corps. She was someone I always looked for to get a great hug and smile. One year I got a neat little card from her at college, something she made out of magazine clippings. It was so special I saved it somewhere, I wish I could find it now. It may have included a phone number because I called her at school and she seemed genuinely surprise and happy I called. I have to say for a guy like me at that time it was such a great ego boost to have such a supremely awesome person give a hoot. We talked a bit and she even passed up on going out with friends so we didn't have to cut our conversation short. That was our only phone call and was 20 years ago...but I remember.

A few years ago Rod was inducted into the Crossmen Hall of Fame. As I hoped, Michelle was in Allentown to help celebrate. I was so glad to get one of those great hugs after not seeing her for several years. The five minutes of catching up was priceless, truly it was. By this time Michelle had done drum corps for so many years and had quite literally made thousands of friends. She was the same rookie I knew from 1990, but such an accomplished person. Not long after that I had a chance to visit with some friends and Michelle and she got to ask how I ended up marrying a color guard girl from her early years at Crossmen. What a fun, short night. My first and last beer with her.

When she was diagnosed I was crushed. Jeff, with your updates it kept our hopes alive. Thank you so much. What I thought was a special bond turned out to be one ray of a billion rays of sunshine she put out. Such a role model on how to treat people, such an inspiring impact on so many. It is awe inspiring. On her last day with us my wife and I cried, and the tears didn't dry up. I will remember Michelle by treating others as she might. I won't measure up, but I'll try.