LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — It's the one thing that can bring fans of opposite teams together: the half-time entertainment from a marching band. The performances are highly choreographed with so many props, you need to see it from the stands get the big picture, but have you ever thought about the story behind the performance?
This year, 65 members of North Oldham High School's Marching Band performed to the Rachel Platten ballad, Better Place. Their message: embrace life and make the most of it.
"They all said it was so cool to be a part of something with a bigger meaning, a bigger message, that was so important to so many people," Amanda Buchholz, the band director at North Oldham said.
They dedicated their performance to one of the band's biggest fans, Buchholz's son, Mark.
"Mark was 19 months old when he passed away peacefully in his sleep. Completely unexpected," Buchholz said.
His death was ruled as Sudden and Unexplained Death of a Child. He hadn't been sick. He showed no signs of problems. Buchholz said a doctor visit from the week before showed a clean bill of health and then he was gone.
"Mark really loved the band. The band loved him," his mom said.
Not even 2-years-old and he'd made his mark. It's what gave Buchholz the idea for the season's theme: Making your mark.
"Those who knew, got it and loved it and those who didn't still found it enjoyable and inspiring," Buchholz said.
"We have a trumpet soloist who just starts spreading his mark around the band members. We saw that as Mark passing his smile and happiness onto everybody," she said.
Some of the more powerful moments weren't even planned.
"That same soloist ascends a prop that's five feet tall and everybody else kneels down and looks up to him. People came and were like, 'we just see Mark ascending to Heaven at that moment.," Buchholz said.
Mark may be gone, but his song isn't finished.
"It's always going to be a little bit of a struggle, but he's with us," Buchholz said.
Even today, Mark's still spreading the joys of life and new beginnings. In December, he'll be watching over his new baby brother.
"Handpicked by his brother in Heaven," Buchholz said.
►Contact reporter Brooke Hasch at bhasch@whas11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@WHAS11Hasch) and Facebook.