Tommy Kmec

One of my favorite memories with Michelle was in 2014 we went to Epcot and had dinner at the Garden Grill. This is one of my favorite restaurants and I was so excited to take Michelle and Jeff there! April was at Disney (I know surprise right) we had one of the most amazing times after dinner we went around the world showcase and took photos and drank and ate and talked all about what we were doing after our cadets life. This photo is one of my favorites because I had not seen Michelle in quite some time, and it was great catching up with old stories!

Another story comes from over 10 years ago my first year at The Cadets color guard. I was very young and did not know much and of course April was very hard on me. Michelle was my saving grace! I remember one of the first times we performed and I showed up to warm up with my prescription glasses. I did not know at the time that April did not like anyone to wear prescription glasses. She actually made me take them off (I am so blind without them!) She thought I had contacts--I never wear contacts. Right before the show I was so nervous that April was going to send me home and Michelle was there to talk to me about how who cares about April and can deal with it because I need to wear my glasses. I thought April was going to send me home. Michelle helped me get through that summer of 2004. I still remember that day right before the show--Michelle was just always the most calm and collective person on that staff which is how survived that summer and many years to come after that. This story I kind of weird to remember, but without Michelle I would not have stayed with The Cadets, which was one of the most amazing organizations I’ve been part of.