CHS Band D.C. Bound

By: Caitlin Ward, Contributing Writer

On May 30, 2022, the Centralia High School Band will travel to Washington D.C. to perform in the annual Memorial Day Parade.

According to Centralia High School Band Director Kim Neighbors, they were nominated by Missouri Senator Roy Blunt to help represent Missouri for this celebration.

The band has been fundraising to help students obtain funds for the trip. “We have sold trash bags and Shakespeare pizzas. We will also be working concession stands and doing some raffles at upcoming games. We also have our pie auction on March 5th,” says Neighbors. 

Looking from the students point of view, some have had a unique experience with fundraising.

“For me personally I didn't think I was going to be able to go because it is a pricey trip. However, Mrs. Neighbors came to me in the morning and told me that a company donated some money and she was gifting it to me,” Tatum Phillips, first chair tenor saxophone said. 

The band has started to prepare for both contest band and the parade. Neighbors believes that doing all of this at once is not as difficult as it sounds and is just more busy than difficult. Some students say having to practice and prepare for contest and the parade is stressful especially on top of school. “I hope this won’t be stressful, it should be a very fun event. I hope to have them very confident and well prepared so they feel relaxed performing in front of a large group of people,” says Neighbors. 

While in Washington D.C., Neighbors and the Centralia Band members will do more than just the parade. They plan on doing a lot of sightseeing and visiting the places such as the Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial and The Holocaust Museaum.