Newtown High School’s Marching Band & Color Guard have been working hard to prepare for the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., this Monday, May 30.

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) nominated the group to represent Connecticut in the National Memorial Day Parade.

As previously reported in The Newtown Bee, the trip’s planned itinerary was supplied by Music Celebrations International, a tour organization that has been used by the school district before. Along with participating in the parade, the trip to Washington should also include a potential visit with Congresswoman Hayes.

The students began meeting for conditioning, marching, and music rehearsals in April, in order to build stamina and learn a new program for the parade down Constitution Avenue, where temperatures are predicted in the low-90s on Memorial Day.

“Representing the State of Connecticut at the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., is a tremendous honor that the students of the Newtown band and guard program, past and present, have worked incredibly hard to achieve,” said NHS Director of Bands Aaron Ovsiew. “We are so thankful to live in a town that supports music in our schools. This year’s Band and Guard has spent the last six weeks preparing for our trip, and is ready to make our state, and town, proud!”

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue said, “We couldn’t be prouder of our NHS marching band and guard being invited to play in the Memorial Day parade in Washington D.C. This is so well-deserved. Our students’ passion and talent will no doubt be a shining moment during the event.”

NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco will be traveling with the group, and she said on May 24 in an e-mail that she is “really looking forward to seeing them perform in the parade.”

“This group has put in countless hours of practice preparing for this event, and it is a huge honor for our school and our community,” said Longobucco. “To be personally invited by Congresswoman Hayes is an extraordinary honor and I look forward to this experience with our students.”

While in our nation’s capital, the NHS students will have the opportunity to tour the monuments on the National Mall, the museums of the Smithsonian Institute, as well as visit Arlington National Cemetery to observe the changing of the guard. Band and guard organizers expressed appreciation to the individuals and organizations in Newtown that donated in support of this tremendous opportunity for students to represent Newtown on the national stage.

The parade steps off at 2 pm on Monday, May 30, and will be livestreamed starting at 1 pm online at musiccelebrations.com/2022-nmdp.