KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – As Americans celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, members of the Claiborne High School band are gaining lifelong memories. They have been invited to play at the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade in Philadelphia.
“It was really exciting. It’s a little nerve-wracking as well. I mean, but it’s really exciting. Once in a lifetime,” said Hilia, who plays French horn and mellophone.
The event’s website called the parade the “largest professionally produced Semiquincentennial (250th) celebration parade in the nation” and said it includes 250 bands, floats and more representing all 50 states and U.S. territories.
“I’m very proud of everybody in the band. They’ve all come a long way to get here into this moment.” said Zach, who plays bass drum and flute.
The band left Thursday morning and will march in one parade Friday and another on Saturday.
“It is a huge honor for our little high school to be chosen to do this in front of millions of people,” said Whitney, the drum major. “It really showed that all our hard work paid off over this year. We definitely improved a whole lot. I think it’s good that we’re getting new opportunities and that we can expand into other regions.”
The staff and students said the opportunity to participate in the parades is an honor.
“We’re not in our little pep band anymore and we can do cool things,” said Lydia, who is in the color guard.
It’s also proof of the group’s hard work.
“We’re invited out to more places like going to Philadelphia. We’re invited to way more parades, memorials, stuff like that,” said Noah, who plays baritone.
The opportunity is also a chance for band members and staff to perform on a national and international stage.
“My father served in the Air Force. So I’m very proud of this country. I take pride in a lot of things that go on here. You know, it’s very special to me,” said Michael Bloomer, the assistant band director at Claiborne High School. “And not only that, but to be here doing this on the 250th, and while the World Cup is going on, we get to, you know, present ourselves in front of multiple nations. It’s truly an awesome experience.”
For Band Director Caleb Howard said teaching these students is a labor of love.
“My high school band really helped me get through high school, and I had a lot of fantastic mentors and teachers along the way,” he said. “And I want to be able to be that for one of those kids, because if it wasn’t for my high school band program, I probably wouldn’t be standing here today. I wouldn’t have graduated high school. And if I can help one of these kids do the same thing and get through high school and find something that is an emotional release for them that is a coping mechanism, it’s something that, you know, overall, they just enjoy. If I can do that, then I have done my job.”
Howard said he hopes this trip creates lifelong memories for the students.
“I hope that they look back on this and understand what a big milestone it is for our country to have been here 250 years and to help represent our area in one of the founding cities of the United States,” Howard said.
The students say they’re looking forward to the trip and the chance to get a Philly cheesesteak, but they also know how much of an honor this is.
“It means so, so much to be able to represent our great state of Tennessee in the 250 national parade,” Whitney said.
The students haven’t had to pay a dime to go on this trip because of fundraising help from the community.
‘When we announced that, hey, Claiborne, our band, this community here in East Tennessee is going to represent the state of Tennessee, not only for our nation, but for the world here, it was very easy to have fundraising happen,” said Bloomer.
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