Contributed by Kelly Hardman Parker,
Director of Bands, Barron Collier High School

Originally published 1:44 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2009

NAPLES — The Barron Collier Band performed in the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade for estimated 500,000 in attendance and more than 1 million television viewers on Saturday, April 4. The invite was extended to the BCHS Band in the spring of 2008 and only one band from each state is chosen to participate and all fifty states are not always represented. The Cherry Blossom Parade route follows Constitution Avenue on the Washington Mall, passing the National Archives, Washington Monument and the White House. At three hours in length, it is one of the nation’s largest parades and this year there were more than one hundred fifty entries.

Immediately after the Parade, the Barron Collier HS Band was honored to perform at the U. S. Navy Memorial for the annual “Blessing of the Fleets” Ceremony and 100th Anniversary of the SeaBees. Following the prelude music of the U.S. Navy Fleet Band, Barron Collier HS was the only band invited to perform for this annual commemoration for an audience of 3,000. The top admiral of the Corps of Engineers (SeaBees) was the guest speaker, followed by the ceremonial mixing of the waters of the seven seas of the world into the fountains of the Navy Memorial. The BC Band performed 30 minutes of patriotic numbers, including the themed marches of each branch of the Armed Forces, works of John Philip Sousa, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, “America the Beautiful”, and “God Bless America”, followed by a spirited performance by the BC Drumline. Unexpectedly, the BC Band’s performance here was filmed extensively by The Travel Channel as part of a special feature documentary and is already in production. More information will follow.

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