FARMINGTON—The Farmington High School band will have a once in a lifetime opportunity on July 4th as they march in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Farmington is the only band representing Utah in the celebration.

“We’re super excited,” said Director of Bands, Brek Mangelson. “It’s nice to be able to represent Utah and the school district and Farmington in the National Independence Day Parade.”

Mangelson said it all started about five years ago. “We were invited to participate in the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. We really pushed hard to try to go and we were able to secure the funding and approval and everything from the parents but unfortunately it is against district policy for us to travel outside the continental United States.”

So in the end the band didn’t get to participate, he said. “It’s my understanding that Sen. (John) Curtis was kind of aware of that. When this opportunity came up for the 250th, he’s on one of the committees there in Washington, D.C., he really wanted to have a band from Utah. He remembered us and so reached out to us and sent us a letter of invitation and said he hoped that we could join the celebrations in Washington, D.C. this time.”

Nothing is against district policy so it worked out and the students and parents were super excited, said Mangelson.

It’s quite an effort to get everyone there, he said. “We have about 94 students actually marching in the parade and then we have about 50 or 60 parents and family members that are accompanying the band and we have eight staff members that are going to be there in D.C. with the students. Quite the entourage.”

Mangelson said they’ve been rehearsing for the last several weeks three days a week to prepare for the parade. “On Saturday we had our final rehearsal and we loaded up the band trailer and the students brought their checked luggage. One of the band parents owns a trucking company and he volunteered to drive out all of our luggage and all of our instruments to Washington, D.C.”

Everyone flies out on Wednesday, he said. “So when we get there all of our bags will have arrived that night before or the day of. It’s cheaper that way than having everybody have to pay for their luggage. We were able to have that opportunity with the help of our band parents.”

Emma Newman is Senior Drum Major for the band. “I’m so excited,” she said. “We’ve been practicing for a couple of weeks, basically since school ended and a long time before that.”

Newman said she was surprised that they would have an opportunity like this. “I thought it was super cool because our band hasn’t had many chances to showcase our skills besides competitions and stuff. I felt like we’ve been working so hard these past couple of weeks that it’s going to pay off a lot.”

Caitlin Christensen is going into her junior year and is the Junior Drum Major and very excited to see the memorials while she’s there. “That’s stuff that’s always interested me so I’m excited to go and look at those.”

“The first full day that we’re there on Thursday we’re going to Arlington National Cemetery,” said Mangelson. “We’re doing a wreath ceremony there at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We’re also going to be visiting the Marine Iwo Jima Memorial and we’re going to be performing there.”

Mangelson said they’ll also be visiting a lot of museums. “We’ll be attending the President’s own Marine Band concert. They’re at the Marine Museum just outside Quantico.”

Then the parade on July 4th, he said. “It is right on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. for the 250th Independence Day parade. Then in the afternoon, we are going to the armed forces veterans annual family barbecue where they have about 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers, vets and their families for a 4th of July celebration and we’ll be performing there for all of the vets and their families.”

The band will be on the Mall for the fireworks and for the Capitol 4th concert, said Mangelson. “They have the National Symphony Orchestra that plays downtown on the Mall. I think the featured guest artist for the big concert is Trace Atkins, the well-known country singer.”

Obviously going to Washington, D.C. is cool in itself because of everything that’s there, he said. “But being there for the 250th celebration is going to be hopefully something they remember for the rest of their lives.”

The band could use some help with the expenses for the trip. To donate go to https://dsdgive.net/event/7586.