Marching band heads to DC for parade

Havre High School marching band members boarded a bus this morning to take them to Spokane, Washington. From there, they will fly to Washington, D.C., where they will tour the city and represent Montana in Monday's National Independence Day Parade.

The Havre Daily News has asked select band members to write small journal entries each day on how they feel as they go through this amazing experience.

The paper will post the entries at http://www.havredailynews.com and on the Havre Daily News Facebook page throughout the weekend so people can follow their progress.

Some band parents have also agreed to take pictures that will be posted on both sites as well.

Following are the first entries the students have submitted.

Meggan Smith

I remember the day Mr. Johnke told me we got nominated to go to Washington, D.C. It was last August. We were standing outside the school getting ready for the pre-marching band picnic. He told me he wasn't sure if it was a prank or a scam or if it was legit. But I couldn't help but be excited anyway.

As the school year progressed we started getting ready and fundraising and planning our summer rehearsals.

I knew it would be tiring but I just couldn't wait to make this little piece of history. Over the last four weeks of our rehearsals, we've spent long, hot days outside making sure everything looks right and correcting our techniques and learning music.

Those rehearsals were so hot and so long, but here we are., on our way to the trip of a lifetime. And the excitement in me personally, and that anyone close to our band can feel, is just unreal. Words cannot describe how excited, proud and overall amazed at how far our band has come in the last weeks.

It's absolutely amazing to see how much this reality of actually going to Washington has made us step up our game to a whole new level.

I am just beyond excited to be going, and I think I'm so excited for the whole product and being part of the group that takes this step for Montana, and for Havre, that there is nothing in particular I'm the most excited for. I'm excited to be part of such a phenomenal group of young men and woman, and I couldn't ask for better students or a better director to make this journey with.

We're on our way to make some huge history for Montana.

And it all begins with a 22 1/2 inch step at 10 a.m. on July 4th in Washington, D.C.

Jessica Otto

Hello. My name is Jessica Otto. I'll be a junior next year and I play the trombone. (For everyone who doesn't know, that's the one with the slide).

We head out for Washington, D.C., Friday morning, and I'm filled with a mixture of emotions, the main two being excitement and nervousness. Personally, I'm looking forward to visiting one of the Smithsonian museums, the Holocaust museum, performing the pieces we've worked so hard on and watching the fireworks show on Independence Day.

I would like to the thank the community and everyone else who helped us to be able to do this, without your support we wouldn't have been even dreaming about such opportunities.

Sincerely,

Jess

Amanda Beard

I am super stoked. I'm really excited for the trip overall. The plane ride will be fun because we will get a plane filled with a bunch of friends all to ourselves. The only thing I'm worried about is forgetting my trumpet.

Rachel Bartlett

The trip is going to be amazing. I'm really excited to be making history. I'm looking forward to the plane rides and the exhibits that we will be visiting. And I'm most nervous about getting off-step in the parade.