A South Georgia high school band is heading to Washington, D.C. to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The Georgia Bridgemen from Lowndes High School are one of only four high school bands, and one of two performers from Georgia, to participate in the presidential inaugural parade.
The band first performed in an inaugural parade in 2005, for President George W. Bush’s second inauguration. It was such a powerful experience for the students to be there and witness the pageantry and history being made that the band has applied to every inauguration since, Director of Bands Jon Bowman said.
“I don’t care who the president is. Very few high school bands are going to have the opportunity to do something like this,” he said. “This is an opportunity for you to be a part of something that started back in the 1800s. That’s the way we’re viewing it.”
Credit: Courtesy photo
Credit: Courtesy photo
And, it’s a nice way to cap off a hard year. The 330 students traveling to the parade are from the Valdosta area, which was hit hard by hurricanes in the last year. Some of the students lost their homes or were displaced. Then, when the band traveled to New York and Washington, D.C. over Thanksgiving, their performance was rained out.
“To be able to culminate our season with this performance, that makes it even more special,” Bowman said.
The band will be performing “National Emblem March.” They will be marching with the U.S. Navy at the center of the parade.
Band accepting donations to cover cost of trip
Bowman found out the Georgia Bridgemen were selected to perform in the parade on Dec. 23, when students were on winter break. Now, 330 students have committed to traveling to D.C. this weekend — for a cost of about $225,000. Because students have already paid to travel for other performances this year, they’re raising money to cover the entire cost of the trip. So far, they’ve raised about half, Bowman said.
If you’re interested in donating to the band, click here.
Credit: Courtesy photo
Credit: Courtesy photo
About the Author
