Vehicles belonging to the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps were vandalized by two 12-year-old boys late Wednesday, Dec. 4. The adolescents were apprehended by Shoreline police officers while another vandalization was in progress.
The vehicles were stored in a locked and lighted fenced area next to the Cascades Bingo Hall in Shoreline. Investigating police officers estimated that nearly $100,000 in damage was done to six trucks a vans and a motor home. Damage included broken windows, ripped out wiring and broken electronic equipment. “They even sprayed fire extinguishers throughout several vehicles,” said Dave Haining, the Cascades’ Development and Marketing Director. “It’s a real mess.”
The tragic event took place on the eve of one of the drum corps’ biggest days of its new season.
“We were expecting 200-300 musicians and colorguard members to audition this weekend when several of these vehicles will be needed,” Haining said. “It’s ironic that kids would trash the equipment belonging to a youth organization. Also, I wonder why these kids were out so late at night and where the parents were. I blame the irresponsible parents even more than the kids themselves.”
The Cascades organization recently revised their budget to compensate for declining bingo revenues, the principal source of funding for the nationally-recognized drum and bugle corps.
“Just as we are making every effort to make sure we can continue to fund such a tremendous youth activity, now this,” explained Haining. “We need a benefactor to step forward to help us through this crisis so we can represent the Northwest in world competition this coming summer.”
The Seattle Cascades was a finalist in the 2002 Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships held last August in Madison, WI. This is the highest placement ever achieved by a drum and bugle corps from the Pacific Northwest. The group is planning a 12,000-mile tour throughout the US this summer, culminating at the DCI Championships in Orlando, FL in August.
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