WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of planning, fundraising, practicing, marching, and spinning, the Newtown High School Marching Band & Color Guard took to the national stage in the 2022 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, May 30, the group comprising high school and a select few middle school students endured sweltering temperatures and thrilled thousands of onlookers who assembled along Constitution Avenue for the first parade to be held in Washington, D.C. since 2019, due to the pandemic.

“I am extremely proud to have the NHS Marching Band and Guard represent Newtown in this year’s National Memorial Day Parade. Our students were honored to represent our town and the State of Connecticut,” said NHS Director of Visual and Performing Arts Michelle Hiscavich. “Thank you to our Board of Education, administration, and community for supporting our arts programs to make this become a reality. It was a tremendous opportunity!”

The parade was an especially meaningful experience for two band and guard families. Ericka DeFelice, mother of drum line member Jackson DeFelice said, “To this military family, Memorial Day means so much. Honoring our beloved friends and Marines we personally lost and remembering all those brave men and women from the beginning of our nation who gave the ultimate sacrifice is what this day is all about.”

DeFelice’s oldest son Grayson is currently serving in the US Marine Corps.

Bonnie and Henry Voegeli were bursting with pride, as their three sons had the unique opportunity to participate in the event.

“Over the last four years, the NHS Marching Band and Guard has been an incredible source of community and pride for my children and my family,” said Bonnie Voegeli. “With a senior, Jeremy, and a freshman, Jason, currently in the band, and our rising seventh grader, Cody, joining next year, we look forward to a full ten years as a band family. When Cody was given the opportunity to step in at the last minute to help carry the banner, we were incredibly honored and grateful for this one-and-only opportunity for all three of our children to perform with the band at the same time.”

In addition to the parade performance, the students had the opportunity to tour the Washington, D.C. monuments, visit Arlington National Cemetery, and observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and explore the Smithsonian Museums — a special treat for the freshmen and sophomore students whose classes were unable to participate in the annual middle school eighth grade Washington, D.C. trip, due to the pandemic.

More information about the NHS Marching Band & Color Guard is available on its website newtownbandandguard.weebly.com.