MAKING IT TO CARNEGIE: EHS mother, choral groups remember those lost

Authors Note: This is the third story of a six-part series. This series will focus on what local choral groups are doing to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the devastating 2007 tornado. These six-stories will represent a different movement of a musical piece titled, "The Wind," which will be performed at Carnegie Hall by the Enterprise State Community College Concert Choir and Entertainers, students from Enterprise High School's choral groups, and choral students from Dauphin Junior High School. The third movement in the piece is titled, "Mother's Loss."

A.J. Jackson was a stuntman with the Enterprise High School cheerleaders and was an active member of the Encores. On March 1, 2007, he was one of eight students and one Enterprise citizen that loss their lives.

A.J.'s mother, Laura Jackson, said she felt a mixture of emotions when she was notified about her son "several hours" after the tornado destroyed EHS.

"I guess the first thing is that total disbelief, disbelief that it all happened and that a child had died, and then to find out it was more than one and my child was included in that number," Laura Jackson said.

In the days and months that followed, Laura Jackson said her family received "tremendous" support from the school system.

"It was an outpouring of support," she said. "The school system was awesome, trying to stay in touch with us."

She said EHS administration and central office administration would take time to send cards and check on her family.

"Every time we saw them, there was a neck hug," Laura Jackson said. "They were amazing to try to keep our spirits up somehow, just to encourage us."

Life never really went back to normal for A.J. Jackson's family. What happened on that March day almost 10 years ago was the start of what Laura Jackson calls "a new normal."

"A new normal started immediately when we got the word that he had passed away," she said. "Right then began what was going to be a new normal for our life: a normal without him, a normal to go to the grocery store and not pick up the things that he liked to eat, to go past places (like) the gymnastics center and know that you weren't going to be able to watch him do it anymore, to go by the baseball field and know that he would not be doing that anymore."

She described the first year after his death as a "first year of firsts," such as a first year without A.J. to celebrate his birthday, which fell on Mother's Day in 2007.

"That was the first year of life's milestones and holidays," Laura Jackson said. "I think the second year probably was the worst for me. I had experienced all of those firsts without him, and then it was real. That was our new normal, life without him."

She said that all the parents who lost a child tried to stay connected after the tornado. At first, the parents would try to meet up once a month. They later tried to meet once a quarter and especially tried to stay in touch during holidays.

"When it was another child's birthday, (we would) send a card," Laura Jackson said. "We had a list of everybody's address and the students' birthdays. We tried to stay in touch with each other that way, especially around birthday times, just to let other parents know that their child has not been forgotten."

Now, 10 years later, Laura Jackson said that the ache of losing her son is still as strong.

"That ache is still as strong today as it was March 1," she said. "It's not something that we'll ever get over. I've gotten better; I have found new joys in life. You see that life does go on."

She now has a one-year-old granddaughter, the child of her daughter, April Yancey.

"It's just like seeing life happening and new life coming about," Laura Jackson said. "It's just a new joy. It's not a joy that can replace the joy that A.J. brought us, but it's a new joy that we can pull hope from. I don't want to say that life goes on, but it does. It really does."

Ten years later, the Encores, of which A.J. Jackson was an active member, and other EHS choral groups, will perform a six-movement piece at Carnegie Hall to commemorate the anniversary of the tornado and those who lost their lives that March day.

EHS juniors Parker Trawick and Bailee Sneed are two students who will perform the music of "The Wind" in New York in March 2017.

Both Trawick and Sneed were in first grade when the tornado hit. They say they witnessed the community coming together and helping each other in their time of need.

"Carnegie Hall is a place where you've had all these legendary people sing," Trawick said. "I think that it's really neat that we get to experience this while also paying tribute and thank and grieve over what (others) have gone through.

"It really means a lot to me that I'm able to do this for them and for all the people that were affected. I'm really proud to be in this group. This (choral) group means so much to the community. Just to be a part of that and to be able to represent our community on such a grand stage is very honoring to me."

Sneed echoed Trawick's words about the choral groups at EHS.

"Enterprise (High School) Encores is such an influence on the community," Sneed said. "I think, because of the 10-year anniversary, it's amazing that any of us have the opportunity (to go to Carnegie Hall)."

"No matter what we do, we're doing (every performance) for something so much bigger than just us being in here and singing. We're doing it for our community and for the people who were directly affected."

Trawick said that, despite the tragedy of the tornado, the story of Enterprise is one of hope.

"Enterprise, the city, is very appreciative for what we have and for the people that came to help in our time of need," Trawick said. "I think that gave us a whole new outlook on things. We are Enterprise and nothing is going to destroy that."

Currently, the EHS choir groups have learned two of the songs they will perform at Carnegie Hall. A professional singer in New York will perform two of the pieces.

Before they started learning the music, Choral Director Cameron Weiler said the students went over the words and discussed what they meant to them and what they would mean to the audience that would hear them.

"I do want them to understand that it's going to have a profound effect on the audience that comes to watch them," Weiler said. "Ten years is a long time, but it's still very fresh."

Weiler has performed at Carnegie Hall herself three times. This time, she will be going as a choral director, helping her students celebrate the progress of Enterprise over the last 10 years.

"This is so specific to Enterprise, with music that was written for them (that will be) conducted by the composer and (they will be) singing with just a group of Enterprise people," Weiler said. "It's very special to me, and I think it's such a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me as a conductor and educator and for the kids to say that they got to shine in the spotlight on the stage."

EHS Principal Matt Rodgers said he was proud of the choral groups' opportunity to perform on the national stage.

"I am excited about the opportunity our choral music students have this spring when they perform at New York City's Carnegie Hall," Rodgers said. "It is an honor for our students to perform at such a historic venue. More importantly, I am extremely proud of the special music written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the March 1, 2007, tornado that destroyed Enterprise High School and took the lives of nine precious people.

"I know Mrs. Weiler and this talented group of Wildcats will represent our school and city with honor and pride. They will be performing with a much higher purpose. It will be a special night of remembrance."

The choral groups at EHS are accepting donations for the cost of the trip. To donate, contact Weiler at [email protected].

The music of "The Wind" will be performed in Enterprise in March 2017. Sneed said she wanted to let those most affected by the tornado know that this music and the performances, in Enterprise and at Carnegie Hall, is for them.

"To the students of 2007, to the teachers, to George W. Bush, something that I think they should hear is that we don't forget," Sneed said. "We don't take it lightly. We remember that day, and we remember the stories that we've heard. Everything that we're doing this year, and from years on and years past, is for them, it's to commemorate them. It's to support them. It's to never forget them."

Laura Jackson said it was an "encouragement" to know that EHS and the City of Enterprise still honor those students who lost their lives.

"I think that, (for) a parent that loses a child, the biggest fear is that they'll be forgotten," she said. "For the people in Enterprise to let us know that they still remember, that's just a big encouragement to know that they're not forgotten."