On May 6, 2007, the Macomb High School bands 2007 seniors presented Mr Wetmore with a director's podium. The inscription engraved on the plaque mounted to the podium includes the following:
Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love. –David McCullough
In presenting the podium to Mr Wetmore, each senior stepped to the microphone and read a part of the following:
Seven years ago Mr. Wetmore came to our 5th grade class, and invited us to go on a journey with him through the wonderful world of music. He told us of the instruments we would play, the composers we would learn about, and the beautiful music we would perform.
But…
Like any tour guide, he did not tell us everything about our little trip.
Mr. Wetmore did not emphasize the long hours of music practice.
You never told us that we would have 8 hour, 100 degree practices.
You never told us about marching in the rain, cold, and wind.
He didn't once bring up the length of the WIU parade.
Never once was getting up at 2:00 am to go on trips mentioned.
How about the countless hours we've spent on buses?
You never once said that we would have to raise many thousands of dollars.
Additionally, he must have forgotten that he sometimes yells a little, scaring the little ones.
Mr. Wetmore never said we would leave a trombone player in a hotel…. Where's Kate?
You never said that one of our tuba players would miss a concert because he was balancing an egg for the equinox.
What about the fact that Stephen Seiple would struggle to make it a whole marching season without getting hurt?
Speaking of marching, Mr. Wetmore, did you forget that our uniforms are polyester and scratchy?
Somehow, the subject of four years of chair auditions was never brought up.
Mr. Wetmore, you forgot to mention how many people we would be judged by.
You never said we would lose band members and friends.
He didn't tell us that only half of the 5th graders that started would actually finish the journey.
But…
Also, like any tour guide, Mr. Wetmore, could not possibly relate to us all the wonders of our journey.
He did not suggest to us that we would be a Superstate Honor Band.
Or that we would be the Honor Band and 1st place Concert Band at the 2005 National Adjudicators Invitational in St. Louis.
He didn't tell us that we'd win the Governor's Trophy in 2004.
He didn't tell us that we'd win the Governor's Trophy in 2005.
He didn't tell us that we'd win—and keep—the Governor's Trophy in 2006.
Mr. Wetmore, you forgot to tell us that we would be selected to the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival our senior year.
You never said that so many of those people who judged us, would only have good things to say.
Or how proud we would feel to be the band that other bands came back to listen to.
Mr. Wetmore did not talk about how we would learn discipline and teamwork.
How about the fact that Macomb Bands need their very own trophy case, and yet the walls of the band room are still lined with trophies?
You never told us we would have so many jokes, that only a band member would understand.
You never told us we would gain a 120 person family.
Most importantly, Mr. Wetmore did not tell us that we would build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Or that we would gain a second father who after every performance, good or bad, would tell us that he was proud of us and that he loved us.
So…
Mr. Wetmore, we want to thank you for inviting us on this tour with you and we want to tell you that we are all better people for having bought a ticket.