Travel

Lakeville South Marching Band Brings Home Piece of World History and Earns Title of Grand Champions

On December 4, 2019 the Lakeville South Marching Cougars departed for Oahu, Hawaii to perform at the USS Missouri and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. The returned home on December 11 after earning a piece of world history and the title of Grand Champions. The group was comprised of 141 students, 23 adults and a friends and family group of about 30 people. Many more Lakeville area families and relative made the trip on their own creating a group of well over 250 people from Lakeville to pay tribute to those who serve our country and experience Hawaiian culture.

The Opening Ceremony and Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade:

The LSHS musicians were part of the Pearl Harbor opening ceremony which included multiple speakers. They included Joe Brilliant, the Commander of the Rainbow Chapter Military Order of the Purple Heart, Command SgtMaj Anthony Spadaro, the senior enlisted leader for the Indo-Pacific Command, and Mickey Ganich, a 100-year-old gentleman who was stationed on the USS Pennsylvania on the day of the attack in 1941. The survivor described the events of the tragic morning beginning with the preparations needed for the Navy’s super bowl football game to be held later that day, and ending with running to his battle station in the turret in full pads all the way from the bunks below.

The opening ceremony concluded with musicians from the Pacific Marine Band, nine high school marching bands selected from around the world (eight from the United States and one from New Zealand), and a collegiate band from Texas performing the United Armed Forces Salute. All who served in each branch of the military were honored during the mass band performance. 

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade followed the opening ceremony and was about one mile in length. It took place on the main street in Waikiki, Kaliakoua Avenue, and was filled with spectators from all over the world. Thousands of spectators clapped, danced, and took videos of the Marching Cougars asking “where are you from” along the way. Clips of the band’s performance were shared all over the world that night as the student musicians memorialized the lost soldiers and celebrated our veterans. 

A review panel consisting of multiple military members judged the ten bands around the midway point of the parade. GySgt Christy Espinosa, enlisted Band Leader for the Marine Forces Pacific Band, SSgt James Mathis, Drum Major for eh Marine Band, and Command Sergeant Major William Pouliot, 25th Infantry Division awarded the Lakeville South Marching Cougars with the title of Grand Champion which included an authentic Hawaiian tiki trophy! The ceremony and dinner occurred at a nearby park at the conclusion of the parade with all the bands gathered together. The energy and sounds of a marine brass band also filled the air as the over 1000 musicians were thanked for their performance!

The USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor

The band started their day on Friday, December 6 by visiting Pearl Harbor and viewing pieces of history from the tragic attack 78 years ago. Pieces of the ships that were bombed and Roosevelt’s hand edited speech, A Date Which Will Live in Infamy, were included at the museum. The students also viewed a movie that explained the events that led up to the attack which ultimately launched America into WWII. Following the movie, the band boarded a Navy vessel to visit the USS Arizona memorial site and pay tribute to those who lost their life that day. Students paid tribute to the fallen by laying their leis on the base of the memorial wall or sprinkling their flower petals into the water, marking the resting place of over 1,000 sailors and Marines killed in the attack.

After paying tribute to those lost on that infamous day, the band was transported to the military base on Ford Island to perform at and learn about the USS Missouri. The USS Missouri cemented its place in history on September 2, 1945. It was on that day that the formal surrender of Japan to the allied powers was signed thus bringing to a close the second world war. The LSHS Jazz Band performed a 1930/40’s swing set reminiscent of the music that would have been performed in the dance halls during the time of World War II. Selections included swing standards such as Glen Miller’s In the Mood and jazz arrangements of patriotic tunes such as Yankee Doodle, America the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner.

The performance took place on the dock of the USS Missouri with the USS Arizona Memorial in the background. Audience members listened and danced from the dock as well as up on the deck of the ship. The Jazz Ensemble was presented with a special piece of history: an American Flag which was flown on the ship on September 2, 2019, marking the 74^th anniversary of the surrender of Japan. The presenter became quite emotional and questioned, “Do you know how many people here you made happy?” The directors and spectators from Lakeville responded with tears and gratitude understanding the significance and relevance their performance would have on the students.

Hawaiian and Island Culture

Not only did the band perform in Oahu, but they were also able to experience the Hawaiian life and culture. Day one was filled with water activities as students had a private excursion to Secret Island where they enjoyed swimming, boating, and various games like beach volleyball. The drum majors of the Marching Cougars also had the opportunity of being interviewed with FOX9 via Skype about their upcoming performances. The setting was gorgeous with the ocean and mountains in the background. Secret Island has been the setting for many television shows and movies such as Lost, 50 First Dates and Jurassic Park/World. The student musicians also hiked to the top of Diamond Head Crater which rises to 800 feet above sea level with stunning beautiful views of the ocean, Waikiki, and Oahu’s mountain ranges. They experienced close-up views of sea turtles and other sea life on the catamaran charter. The final day included the Dole Pineapple Plantation and the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). The PCC is organized into the different Polynesian islands where students are able to watch a cultural presentation about each island. Music and dance, and activities of the island such as weaving palms, creating fish hooks or throwing spears are also included. The evening ended with the HA Breath of Life show which was a beautiful, high energy presentation that included live music and dance, and the story of a young boy growing up and becoming a man in the Polynesian islands. The performance took place at the Pacific Theater, a 2,700 seat outdoor amphitheater in front of the backdrop of a mountain and waterfall.  The show concluded with a display of acrobatics and fire dancing. The students where beyond excited to find out their local tour guide for the week, who is also an active military member living on base on Oahu, was the feature fire dancer in the show! Overall, lifelong memories and connections were made in Hawaii; students represented their school and community with passion, pride, and enthusiasm!