Every year in May, the Oswego Marching Band and Color Guard concludes its year with the Memorial Day parade. This parade means a great deal, for both the holiday and the final marching band event of the school year.
“The Memorial Day parade not only displays remembrance for all of our troops, but gives the marching band one last chance to perform with each other,” said OH senior drum major Heidi Glaser.
The marching band and color guard performs on the way to the cemetery, and the season ends on a good note.
“We play a brand new parade tune for the actual march, and when we get to the Downtown Oswego cemetery, we perform our signature Amazing Grace one last time, fully completing our season in a very sentimental way,” said OH senior drum major Connor Omar.
This final event takes place after graduation, and allows seniors the freedom to decide whether they want to join, but many still do in order to be able to see their friends again.
“For our seniors, this is the last thing they will do with the OH marching band, it’s also really exciting knowing that we’ve come from a long break to get to be with our favorite people again,” said OH senior drum major Maddy Phillips.
The seniors get to reminisce on the years they’ve spent with the team before moving on to a new chapter in their lives, remembering the shows they’ve experienced, the band playing, the flags flying.
“Each year of marching band is different; from new shows and new drill to new friendships, and I’m glad that I got to experience every new year,” said Phillips.
They get to see the band through different parts throughout the years, and may gain new insights from their different positions.
“Being a leader of the group helps me to clearly see how much good this group does for everyone and how it can create different meaningful experiences for each person,” said Omar.
According to band members, this year has been a splendid one, and the seniors get to exit on a high note to see what awaits them next, while still remembering what got them where they are.
“I will miss this band so incredibly much next year,” said Glaser, “but I know that my journey with them will carry on into the next drum majors.”
My name is Monaco Tiffany. I am a senior at Oswego High School and Oswego East High School. This is my second year as part of 42Fifty. I am serving as one of the Managing Editors for 42Fifty. I am involved in the frc robotics team 2338 Gear It Forward.
You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication
