ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Parkland High School Trojan marching band returned to the Lehigh Valley after a five-day trip to Hawaii that included a Memorial Day performance at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, where students also reflected on the history of Pearl Harbor.
The trip combined performance, education and remembrance as students honored service members during their visit.
“It held a special place in our hearts that we were doing something that had so much impact,” said senior Abigail Kravitz.
The band spent five days in Hawaii, where they performed on stage, learned about the history of Pearl Harbor and dropped flowers into the water to honor the more than 3,500 Americans who were killed or wounded during the attack.
“We were honored with that ability and that we were able to honor our veterans and our troops,” said senior Stacie Papageorgiou. “It being Memorial Day we saw people in their uniforms coming and honoring how much people sacrificed. It just really meant a lot to us.”
Director of Bands Jason Lerew said the experience had a lasting impact on the students.
“The students really gained a lot from getting to do that kind of a performance at that special place on Memorial Day,” Lerew said.
Beyond the performance and memorial visit, students also explored Hawaiian culture during the trip.
Assistant Band and Choral Director Allison Figueroa said the experience helped strengthen the group.
“We just learned so much about a part of our country that is so far away that most of us have never experienced it,” Figueroa said. “But to see them do that together, I think they’ve built a bond and a memory that’s going to last forever.”
The students returned home Friday after what staff described as a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.