The students in the Whiteface High School band spent Friday afternoon marching around town, using their Homecoming parade as a chance to practice for a special opportunity in Washington D.C. in the Spring. 

The Antelope band was nominated by Congressman Randy Neugebauer to march in the Memorial Day parade in Washington D.C. 

“It’s an honor to be in our nation’s capitol on Memorial day honoring all the military veterans,” senior Caleb Scoggins said. “And we’ll see the President and we’ll be marching in the same parade as the Marine Corps band. So that’ll be pretty cool.”
 
“It’s a very humbling experience,” senior, Stephanie Young chimed in. 
 
“Like you saw there’s such a large group of seniors and they’ve stuck with us all these years,” Band Director Dan McCasland said. “It’s just a special ending for their career. It’s just been a special group.”
 
The school plans on taking about 76 students, more than 20 of them seniors this year.  McCasland said this is the biggest trip he has ever had to plan. 

The students have taken on a huge role when it comes to fundraising. They said they have been selling t-shirts and Antelope fan gear, but admitted they have a lot of work left to do. Thankfully the community has shown them a lot of support. 

“I’ve had people who don’t even have kids that go to this school anymore come up to me and say ‘wow you guys got invited to go to Washington D.C. That’s so cool, what can we do to help, can we donate?'” Scoggins said. “Of course, we welcome any donations.” 

The students will hold a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning at 7 am at the Whiteface Community Center. The breakfast is free but donations are welcome. 

The band has a Gofundme page. If you would like to donate, click on the link.