Forty-six members of the Colony High School marching band are getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform in the Jan. 20 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. The band is the only active high school marching band in the state, and the invitation to represent Alaska coincides with the 50th anniversary of statehood. A few band members agreed to share their experiences with the Daily News as part of their trip.
Zach Hoyt
My name is Zach Hoyt and I am a 17 year old senior in the Colony High School Marching Band. I have been in the band since our previous trip to DC for the 4th of July Parade in 2006 as a banner-carrier and am now one of the cymbal players on the drumline.
Gayle Hoyt
My name is Gayle Hoyt. I am a senior, and I have been a member of the marching band since my freshman year, when it was started. I play the alto saxophone.
Breanna Romeo
I'm Breanna Romeo, my nickname is Bree, that's usually what I go by. I'm a Senior and I'm 18. I have been in Marching Band for 4 years, and band in general since 5th grade. I play the flute usually, but for marching band I play the piccolo.
Clayton Powell
Clayton Powell is serving as one of the adult chaperones on the trip. He is a Master Sgt. in the US Air Force stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base with the 3rd maintenance operations squadron. He has two children in band. Donte, 16, a senior, who is going to be holding the band banner during the parade and Oreanna, 15, a sophomore, who is going to be a color guard member.
The next day: Morning coffee with Alaska's senators - 1/22/2009 6:28 pm
Inauguration Day! - 1/21/2009 11:25 am
Inauguration Day! - 1/20/2009 10:39 pm
Touring D.C. - 1/20/2009 12:55 am
Monday on the Mall - 1/20/2009 12:48 am
The day before: Monuments and museums - 1/20/2009 12:46 am
From Newark to D.C. - 1/20/2009 12:45 am
Newark to Fairfax - 1/18/2009 11:43 pm
Newark to Fairfax - 1/18/2009 11:29 pm
NY Times features Colony Band's trip to inauguration - 1/17/2009 7:38 pm
Meet band blogger: Breanna Romeo - 1/17/2009 7:35 pm
Meet band blogger: Gayle Hoyt - 1/17/2009 7:34 pm
Meet band blogger: Zach Hoyt - 1/16/2009 8:53 pm
JANUARY 22, 2009 - 6:28 PM
By Clayton Powell
After a superb performance for the newly-sworn president, the band members met with Senators Murkowski and Begich during their morning coffee, visit the Library of Congress and depart for New Jersey Wednesday afternoon.
Senators Murkowski and Begich greeted Colony HS marching band
Sen Begich greeted Oreanna Powell
Sen Begich Greeted Zach Hoyt
JANUARY 21, 2009 - 11:25 AM
By Clayton Powell
Waiting in Line in front of Ford’s Theatre
The queue swelled to the width of the 10th Street
view of crowd (queue) looking towards the security check point
Looking up Pennsylvania Ave (parade route) towards the Capitol
US flag hoist over Pennsylvania Ave
JANUARY 20, 2009 - 10:39 PM
By Breanna Romeo
Today was an amazingly crazy day. One word to describe it would be incredible. I have never been so excited in my entire life.
The beginning of the day wasn't much fun. We had to wake up early to leave the hotel at 6:30 a.m. to go security, but when we got there we had to wait for the rest of our regiment to get in the same area, and for the regiment before us to finish.
Hurry up and wait
The motto of the day was: "Hurry up and wait," which was...for the entire time ‘til we were actually on the parade rout. We waited until 10:30 a.m. to go through security. Most people slept and some of the band played games.
JANUARY 20, 2009 - 12:55 AM
By Zach Hoyt
1/19/09: Today we started the day out with a trip to the Washington Monument and the surrounding area, where we spent some time walking around and visiting the various memorials.
Mr. Powell at the Washington Monument
WWI Memorial
My group made our way to the World War II memorial from the Washington Monument to start with, getting pictures around the Alaska Wreath and brushing up on our World War II quotes.
From the World War II memorial, we made our way around the frozen reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial, although we could not approach it because of preparations for the Inaugural celebration.
JANUARY 20, 2009 - 12:48 AM
By Clayton Powell
The Capitol
The veil of night conceals the bee hive of activities on the National Mall, as DC authorities prepared for the over 2 Million people predicted to attend the inauguration on Tuesday.
The Big Screen
Monday marked the day before the big event when President-Elect Barack Obama will take to the stage to become the 44th President of the United States of America. The day was filled pulsating energy as Americans from every state wondered the National Mall, visited museums and national monuments, and collected souvenirs to help remind future generations of the day Barack Obama became President.
JANUARY 20, 2009 - 12:46 AM
By Breanna Romeo
Today was a very eventful day.
It started out at the Washington Monument which was incredible, I've seen it before but I have never actually been close to it.
The Washington Monument
Then my group went the the WWII memorial and got pictures taken around the Alaska sign.
WWII memorial
We were going to go into the Lincoln Memorial but it was closed because Obama was there either earlier in the day, or was going to be there soon.
JANUARY 20, 2009 - 12:45 AM
By Ginny Bill
Hello to everyone in the land of ice and snow. I'm writing my blog tonight from our hotel room at the Potomac Mills Best Western, in Virginia. The last several days have been very busy, and very enjoyable. I think that it's safe for me to say, speaking for everyone, that, as a band, we've had a lot of fun so far.
Group photo in Fairfax hotel.
We arrived in Newark, New Jersey Saturday night and went immediately to our hotel, very close to the Newark airport. The next morning, we all got up, ate breakfast, and hit the road, traveling via charter bus from Newark to Fairfax, VA. We arrived in Fairfax at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church that evening, where we were greeted by gracious and generous members of the congregation.
JANUARY 18, 2009 - 11:43 PM
By Zach Hoyt
After a stay overnight in Newark, New Jersey, we (the band) all loaded up onto a bus to get make the 4 hour bus ride to Fairfax, Virginia. Once in Fairfax, we went to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church where we held our final rehearsal before the parade. As a senior, this was also my final practice as a student at Colony High School, and I am pleased with the outcome.
Kait helps unpack the bus
Final rehearsal
The Band Practice
JANUARY 18, 2009 - 11:29 PM
By Breanna Romeo
Our trip today was mostly traveling. We got into Newark at midnight and went straight to the hotel to sleep. Sunday morning we left our hotel at 10:30am for Virginia.
It was around a three hour bus ride. We went to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church for practice and dinner.
Band practice
Band practice
We went their because because before we had the funds for our hotel rooms they offered their church for housing of us while we were in D.C. It was extremely nice and generous of them.
JANUARY 17, 2009 - 7:38 PM
The Times' politics blog "The Caucus," wrote a feature on Colony Band's trip to DC for Barack Obama's inauguration.
Read it: In Alaska, Parade Trumps Politics
JANUARY 17, 2009 - 7:35 PM
Breanna Romeo
I'm Breanna Romeo, my nickname is Bree, that's usually what I go by. I'm a Senior and I'm 18. I have been in Marching Band for 4 years, and band in general since 5th grade. I play the flute usually, but for marching band I play the piccolo.
JANUARY 17, 2009 - 7:34 PM
Gayle Hoyt.
My name is Gayle Hoyt. I am a senior, and I have been a member of the marching band since my freshman year, when it was started. I play the alto saxophone.
JANUARY 16, 2009 - 8:53 PM
Zach Hoyt
My name is Zach Hoyt and I am a 17 year old senior in the Colony High School Marching Band. I have been in the band since our previous trip to DC for the 4th of July Parade in 2006 as a banner-carrier and am now one of the cymbal players on the drumline.
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