It takes dozens of hands to lift a banner, especially one rooted in such pride and honor. When HSE raised the new crowd flag, it wasn’t just fabric stretching across the student section, it was legacy: Abigail Cox’s legacy. The chants of the crowd, the sea of blue, and the teamwork it took, all reflected the spirit Abigail left behind, a constant reminder that her impact continues to shape HSE long after graduation, and her passing.
The creator of the banner and Blue Crew member, senior Graham Toner reflects on his process of creating the banner.
“For the creative process, once I sat down with my computer, the design quickly came to life. Prior to sitting time, I just spent a lot of time researching examples and figuring out what I felt needed to be included,” Toner said. “Ultimately, it just felt most important to me that I made it mainly blue for our “Blue Crew” and matching school colors.”
Though the banner is presented as perfection, Toner admits he had challenges creating a banner that celebrates Abigail and everything she stood for.
“I didn’t know Abigail personally but from everything I’ve seen and heard, I would just say loving. In everything she did, she had serious passion for it, and she affected those around her in such a positive way and shed such a bright light.”
When the banner stretched across the student section, from the football field, Toner saw his work come to life.
“As a football player, seeing it from the field was so cool. It’s so great to see one of your designs become more than just a file on my computer,” Toner remembered. “It’s really cool to see my work honor Abigail’s legacy, but truly her legacy is so much greater than a banner.”
Abigail’s legacy is woven into HSE’s community, even to those who never met her, she left a big mark on Blue Crew and our community as a whole.
When the banner first hit the stands, Blue Crew member, Jackson Bixler said his first thought was:
“This is massive.” For him, the size of the flag wasn’t the only thing that made it powerful, it was also the message behind it. “The banner adds energy to the student section, and because it’s new, it draws more attention and recognition than usual,” he said.
Blue Crew members aren’t doing it alone; the banner takes the entire student section working together to present the banner in Abigail’s name.
“It means a lot to me to see that we are continuing Abigail’s legacy,” Bixler said.
As the flag spread across the student section, it became less about the game, and more about the symbol of strength in their hands. Students leaned in, gripping the fabric and chanted with the weight of it in their hands.
“The most meaningful part of this was seeing the reaction of Abigail’s parents when it was unrolled for the first time in a football game. Seeing how proud they were that Abigail is still bringing joy to people, honestly brought tears to my eyes,” said Reagan Kurcinka, Blue Crew’s leader.
For many, during that moment, it wasn’t just about honoring Abigail, it became proof of her energy, and how it still fuels HSE today.
The crowd flag takes dozens of hands to lift, but HSE does it with the very strength and perseverance that Abigail embodied. She wasn’t just a member of Blue Crew; she was the spirit behind it. Abigail’s organization, Ab’s Angels has the motto “Be Spirited”, and it’s stitched onto the flag’s corner. The banner doesn’t just wave for one game, or for one moment, it waves as a promise to all of HSE: that her legacy will keep shaping the school, and Blue Crew for years to come.
