Westbury High School’s band and dance team traveled to Canton, Ohio, last weekend to celebrate former student and athlete Michael Strahan’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and they had a special surprise for him.
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Strahan played for Westbury for one year, and attended and played at Texas Southern University before his 15-year career with the New York Giants. The last game he played was Super Bowl XLII, which the Giants won.
While in Ohio, the band marched in two parades – one at the enshrinement ceremony and one at Cedar Point Amusement Park. After the enshrinement parade, the band and dance team had a few minutes to spend with Strahan. They arranged to have a framed Westbury jersey, which they had all signed, placed in the trunk of his parade car and were able to present it to him.
“Wow, now this is one thing I don’t have,” Strahan said.
Westbury’s band director, Reginald Washington, said Strahan was truly touched and told the students he planned to display it along with his other prized football memorabilia.
ABC13’s David Nuno caught the moment on camera.
The band also had a surprise for another inductee, Aeneas Williams. He attended Southern University, which wasn’t on hand for the festivities. Washington also attended Southern, and the band learned the school’s fight song and performed it for him so his university was represented through them.
The band toured the Hall of Fame Museum before heading back to Houston.
I have never been more proud of how my students conducted themselves throughout the entire trip!!! This was an Absolutely Awesome experience for me as well as my students!!! What we did for Mr. Strahan, Mr. Williams, and Mr. McKinney on this trip exemplifies who we are @ Westbury HS!!!!
I MUST comment on how AMAZING my Parents are that chaperoned on this trip!!!! Not only did they help in making this trip possible, but in every detail they were involved in this process. There is no way this trip would have been possible without them!!!! Mrs. Bert, Ms. Brown, Ms. Logan, and Mrs. Thomas, you ladies are the reason why we were able to make it all happen!!!! You ladies are simply the BEST!!!! Mr. Woods, Mr. and Mrs. McGowan, Ms. Portillo, Mrs. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Williams you guys are so Awesome for helping in anyway you guys were needed!!!! Band trips don’t happen without out parents, and ALL of YOU ARE SOOOOO AMAZINGLY Awesome!!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Thank you Mr. Washington for all you do for Westbury High!!! Years from now your student will appreciate you for all you’ve done!!!
Mr. Washington the community is so proud of you and the band students of Westbury. Thank you for being that positive mentor the students need. They will make you and Westbury proud.
Board of Trustee Wanda Adams thanks for helping make this once in a lifetime opportunity a reality. You went above and beyond.