It was an emotional day for the Checotah Winter Guard and for their director Ashley Hackler on Feb. 10 at the Winter Guard and Percussion of Oklahoma (WGPO) but a day they will always remember.

Last year the band suffered a great loss to their band program when thieves stole their trailer full of Winter Guard equipment, uniforms, props and speakers valued at over $15,000. Then they suffered another devastating blow when the trailer was finally found with all of its contents destroyed by fire.

Even though Hackler worked quickly to start a Go-FundMe and received several donations to help the band recover, the personal loss was heartbreaking but the team kept going.

However, Hackler never expected the generosity they would receive from the WGPO.

“I was in tears as they started telling our story over the intercom for everyone to hear,” Hackler said. “You could hear the sounds of shock and dismay from the audience in the stadium, but the expressions on our Checotah kids’ faces brought so

Winter Guard and Percussion of Oklahoma surprised Ashley Hackler and the Checotah Winter Guard by not just replacing their 2023 plaques but by also donating $2,500 to their program.

much emotion up in me that I couldn’t hold back the tears.”

About a week before the competition, Hackler had reached out to the contest director to ask if plaques could be reprinted for the 2023 season wins through the contest circuit because unfortunately Checotah had also lost them in the fire.

“We had fully intended on paying for them,” Hackler said. “We just wanted these students to get back what they had worked so hard for. So after our B Team performance I was told to make sure I was on the floor for the awards. At first I thought we had done something wrong, so I was a little nervous. But when they started telling our story I knew something was up. That’s when they awarded us all of our 2023 plaques and also surprised us with a $2,500 donation to our program! I was just overwhelmed with happiness and thankfulness!”

Hackler stated that the band has been lucky enough for Checotah schools to help replace some items destroyed in the fire but there were some things they just couldn’t get back so easily. For example, they had collected items like makeup, extra body tights, equipment, and other guard essentials throughout the 10 years Checotah had been competing in WGPO. These items were then used for students who could not afford items on their own.

“Being able to put this $2,500 towards needed items will be a giant help for these kids,” Hackler said. “We currently have two teams representing Checotah through our winter guard program. One team has 16 students and the other team has 18 students. This is Checotah’s tenth year of competing in winter guard and it has been a whirlwind to say the least.

“The first year was a learning curve for all of us because I had personally never competed as a member of a winter guard team. But by the second year we received the Most Improved Guard Award at the state contest through WGPO.

“Teaching guard just for the creative, fun side of it all is why I love to do it. I believe that exciting feeling and some of my crazy teaching strategies are what lures our students into getting involved in the program in the first place.

“Checotah has had a very strong band program for many years. It was built on the backs of those who came before us and hopefully will continue through Mr. Warrior and myself. The band and guard have a reputation of excellence, both in marching and winter seasons. They are often recognized for their character portrayal and their hard work ethics. Every day I get to come to school and teach some of the best students in this school. Through the band and guard program we demand excellence and we are so lucky to have the students, along with their parents, who continuously push for superior results. We are also lucky to have the support of our principals, school administrators and the community. We couldn’t do what we do without their support. Thank you, Checotah. Thank you, WGPO. Most of all, thank you students and parents. Without you, it would not be possible.”