The Canopies, also known as the shade or sometimes even referred to individually by section (i.e. "The Trumpet Canopy), were just over one year of age when they passed away this fall. They were wonderful canopies and brought much joy to those who had little to no input in their construction. The job they set forth to do was always done exactly right, except for when the sun was at the wrong angel during band week and when the shade was on the wrong side of the fence, but that's ok because most of the time they did exactly what they were meant to do.
During the summer of 2010 the canopies enjoyed being put up and taken down by the wonderful members of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma numerous times as practice before the band season began. This was the most eventful and memorable time in their lives. Originally the canopies started as a set of four, and unfortunately we lost one in the fall of 2010 due to a freak wind accident during the first day of band week.
After this situation the remaining three spent most of their life in the band shed and in storage while the canopy officials constructed a proper plan for further canopy safety. In the summer of 2011 plans were made to add straps to increase the life of the canopies. This addition did help, but the canopies did not hold on long enough and passed away late in the morning on September 4, 2011. They will be forever missed. It is however rumored that there may be enough parts to put together either one or two canopies for next season. Maybe the canopy legacy will live on, but maybe it will not. For now we will live in sorrow and grieve for our loss.
(And of course TBS/Kpsi met up to tear down the canopies when they unexpectedly blew over. We love us some canopies!)