Washington, D.C. -- The marching band from Altmar-Parish-Williamstown High School leaves Saturday for Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Independence Day Parade at 11:45 a.m. Sunday. The 75 band and color guard members will march up Constitution Avenue during the parade, tour the Capitol area and watch the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks on the Mall over...
View full sizeThe APW marching band practices in the school's parking lot Thursday in preparation for an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. -- The marching band from Altmar-Parish-Williamstown High School leaves Saturday for Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Independence Day Parade at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
The 75 band and color guard members will march up Constitution Avenue during the parade, tour the Capitol area and watch the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks on the Mall over the Washington Monument.
This will be the sixth time the A-P-W marching band has participated in the parade. Previous times were in 1997, 1990, 1987, 1983 and 1978.
Band director Janet Fiacco said she received a phone call from the parade committee asking if the band would want to come since it had been about 13 years since its last visit. “Then we had to send a videotape of the band and references,” Fiacco said.
A goal of parade organizers is to draw bands from all parts of the United States, the parade website says. Bands must submit a video, photos and biographical information detailing experience, honors, past adjudication results and festival ratings.
Marching bands are selected based on overall quality and geographical, ethnic and stylistic diversity.
A-P-W is the only one of 23 participating band to come from New York state. Band members saved their own money and conducted fundraisers to raise the $25,000 needed for the trip. Fiacco said the Dugway Methodist Church also chipped in “a few thousand dollars” to help the cause.
Last year, Pulaski High School’s band marched in the Independence Day Parade in Washington.
Contact Debra J. Groom at dgroom@syracuse.com, 470-3254 or 251-5586.