Doug Chadwick: Want to honor ‘Uncle Sam’? Come to MoBand concert

Re “MoBand keeps the music and blankets coming to Modesto” (Scene, June 3): Good articles in both The Bee’s Friday June 3 Scene and again in this morning’s June 6 paper concerning our MoBand concerts in Graceada Park. We should “salute” one of our long-term members (some 23-plus years): Bassoon player Norman VanWalterop, aka “Uncle Sam.” Every year, for the patriotic concert on the Thursday closest to July 4, he would dress in full Uncle Sam costume.

Norman passed away April 24, so he won’t be at the June 30, 2016 concert. But, conductor George Gardener plans to honor him then. Norman would appreciate this, so let’s all attend.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Doug Chadwick: Want to honor ‘Uncle Sam’? Come to MoBand concert."