Deployed dad sends good wishes to Marching Bearcats from Africa

Even while serving in Africa, SFC David Corbin wanted to wish his daughters and color guard members, Kayla and Alexis Corbin, good luck in their marching band’s upcoming semifinal competition.
So he created a sign that said “Good Luck Anderson Co Marching Band Djibouti Africa,” took a photo with the sign, and let Facebook be the messenger of his good wishes.
“My wife brought up the idea, and when she told me I thought it was a great idea, and couldn’t wait to do it,” David, who will be stationed in Africa with the U.S. Army for one year, said in an e-mail interview.
“They actually saw it via Facebook,” Jessica said of David’s photo. “I posted it on the ACHSMB Facebook page so that all the students could see that although he isn’t here in person, he is still one of their biggest fans!  The girls and I talked about it that evening when they got home from school.  It was a very bittersweet moment. We loved that he sent the picture, but were sad that he isn’t here to see them end yet another record-breaking season.”
Jessica said this act of encouragement is typical of David’s personality.
“When he was deployed to Iraq, he sent a softball to every girl on Alexis and Kayla’s softball team that he had signed and wrote good luck on,” Jessica said via e-mail.  “Over the last five years he has encouraged and supported not only his kids, but every student in the band!”
Alexis, a high school senior, and her sister Kayla, a sophomore, said via e-mail they were able to speak with David on the phone at the hotel prior to the band’s semifinal competition, and after the band learned they earned a high enough score to compete in finals. The band placed third out of four teams in last Saturday’s finals.   
“It was honestly the best thing that someone has ever done for me, and it was a great way for him to keep involved,” Alexis said of her dad’s photo.
“Like I said on Facebook, He’s the best dad ever.”
Kayla agreed.
“It was really nice to have that to calm our nerves a little and after we found out that we made finals he called us again and even though I wish he could have seen us perform in person it was still a wonderful way let us know he loved us and that he with us in any way he could be,” Kayla said. “Anyhow, there is always finals next year for him to watch.”

Photo furnished

Pictured is SFC David Corbin, first on the left in the front row, the father of marching band color guard members Kayla and Alexis Corbin. David, whose wife Jessica says once sent softballs to every girl on his daughters’ softball team when he was serving in Iraq.