Friday, January 30, 2009

Late Show - Final Tribute

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Inauguration Report

Ben and I had a very exciting and memorable trip to Washington DC for the Inaugural Parade. It was definitely an event that we will both remember for the rest of our lives.

We got up at 1:00 am, leaving the hotel at 2:00 am for a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the Pentagon in Washington DC. At 5:00 am, the chaperones were kicked off the bus as only the band and two directors could go through security.

The band went through security at the Pentagon. After security, they waited at the Pentagon to go to the staging area at the White House. While waiting, 15 members of the band appeared on the Today show.

Today Show link

From there, the band was bused to warming tents on the White House lawn where they were able to see the inauguration ceremonies. After the swearing-in, the band had to walk up Constitution Avenue to the Capitol, where the parade begins. Unfortunately, it was a very cold day (mid-20s)and the wind starting picking up. Our California-raised band was quite cold, especially when the parade was delayed due to the luncheon taking longer than expected. The band had to stand around in the freezing weather for two hours waiting for the parade to begin.

The chaperones (including me) made our way to the parade route by riding an extremely crowded Metro (subway) train. I had to jam my way through the doors into the train and then could barely stand on two feet it was so crowded. But after a 2 1/2 hour wait to get through a security checkpoint, we finally found ourselves on Pennsylvania Avenue.


We were also waiting in the freezing cold but at least we had heavy winter clothes on, which the marching band did not. Finally, more than an hour late, the parade started. Obama was in his limo when he went past us and it was a total mob scene, so I didn't get look at him. But then 98% of the crowd left when Obama went by, so I did get a good view of Joe Biden.




















After more delays, the Redwood Marching band came down Pennsylvania Avenue with the Capitol in the background.


















Shortly afterwards, the band marched past President Obama's viewing stand. Ben was on the side of the reviewing stand, so he got a great look at the President and his family. Ben said he was eight feet from the stand and that President Obama looks more realistic in real-life than he does on TV!

And they looked great on TV!


The Redwood Middle School Marching band were simply amazing. They were the only middle school in the parade and the only band from California. They had to wait over 2 hours in the freezing cold, with just their uniforms and some thermal underwear. They marched in the first division of the parade with high school, college, and military bands. 15-20 members of those bands dropped out of the parade. But for the Redwood Middle School Marching Band, composed of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, every member of the band started the parade and every member finished the parade! We couldn't be more proud of them. Ben said that yes, it was very cold, he couldn't feel his fingers and his trombone slide froze twice. But it was all worth it since he was only eight feet from the President.

Here's a compilation of news reports on the band. At about the 1:02 mark in the video, you can see Ben with his trombone at the Christmas concert (second trombone player from the left).

Monday, January 19, 2009

Claude Lemieux is back!

It will be fun to see Claude Lemieux play tomorrow night wearing the teal!



Sidenote: Wow!!! 3 new posts to Everettblog in one day!!!

New Pictures on Flickr

Beach with Sandra - http://flickr.com/photos/teverett96/sets/72157612726765143/



Ride to Gizdich with Tracy - http://flickr.com/photos/teverett96/sets/72157612777529282/

Update on Ben's Inagural Adventure

Hi family and friends,

Some of you have asked about details of Ben and Steve’s adventure/participation in the historic event. Here is what I know.

- Ben, Steve and the Redwood Middle School gang are touring Jamestown and Yorktown today which are minutes away from Williamsburg where they are staying but hours away from Washington DC . It is hard to stay much closer plus it might be better to stay away from the crowd except for the Inaugural Day. The band is also practicing some at the parking lot today.

- Tomorrow, they need to get up around 1am east coast time, take the bus to the Pentagon for security check. After that only 2 adults can stay with the band, the music director and her assistant. The band will be escorted by military personnel rest of the day. The other 4 school staff and 14 parent chaperones (Steve being one) will need to leave. I am not sure where Steve will be, maybe at the Mall with the other 1 million non-ticket Inaugural viewers and later along the non-ticket parade route with another million viewers!

- The parade starts at 11:30 east coast time. According to the school schedule, Redwood is in the first 1/3 of the parade. There are about 90 groups in the parade. I read in one of the local media that they are 23rd. There has been abundant newspaper, radio and tv coverage on the Redwood marching band.

- The band has about 110 students. The color guard is in black and the band is in black/white. The color guard marches in front with the Redwood sign. They are followed by the marching band. The color guard usually has a fancy routine, then they open up to both sides for the band to march through. But they are not allowed to do any of that. They must march at a certain tempo non stop in a certain way. There will be military personnel on both sides letting them know if they are too slow or too fast. The whole march is about 25 minutes, 1.7 mile. The Redwood Band has marched in many parades longer than that but in much warmer weather of course.

- Ben is in one of the middle ranks playing trombone. If you are marching with the band, he is the right most person in his rank. He will be marching on President Obama’s side.

I will try to get a glimpse of them tomorrow on tv.
Sharon