Local student musicians will soon take to the skies to take part in the 75th anniversary of an event that shook the sense of security in the United States — the attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Saturday evening, 55 ninth through 12th grade students from Elk, Cameron and McKean counties will leave for JFK airport in New York City, where they will get on a plane heading to Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday morning, according to Kathy Thumpston, director of instrumental music at Bradford Area High School.
“They have events occurring all over the island that week but the major event is the parade on the 7th,” said Thumpston. Dec. 7 is the actual anniversary of the attack, which happened Dec. 7, 1941.
On Monday, the students will perform a tribute concert at the USS Missouri, according to Thumpston. On Dec. 7, they will perform in the parade opening ceremonies alongside the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band. In the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade that follows opening ceremonies, the local students will represent both the state of Pennsylvania and the USS Pennsylvania, she said. Several student bands across the country have formed to represent different battleships.
“Our selections include ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ ‘Military Escort,’ ‘Armed Forces Salute’ and ‘God Bless America,’” according to Thumpston.
“When the students are not performing, they will be touring Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri and the USS Bowfin,” she said. “They will be taking an island tour, visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, which includes a luau, and the Dole Plantation. Their itinerary is very full.”
To earn a place in the band, area students had to show their abilities, according to Thumpston, who explained, “these students had to audition by demonstrating that they were proficient both musically and marching.”
Joining the students in Honolulu will be Dan and Maggie Sensenig, teachers at Cameron County High School; Ray Knight, band director at Elk County Catholic High School (St. Mays); Henry Sobieski, music teacher from Kane; and Thumpston. “The rest of the chaperones are parents from the participating schools. There are quite a few that have made their own arrangements to be in Hawaii to watch our performances,” she said.
While most residents won’t be traveling to Honolulu to watch the local bands represent Pennsylvania, the parade will be streamed live at www.pearlharborparade.org.
According to the parade website, the Pearl Harbor Honors Band from Pennsylvania will be 29th in the parade line-up of 97. The event schedule indicates the parade will begin at 6 p.m. in Honolulu, which would put it at 11 p.m. Pennsylvania time.
The musicians have been preparing all year, practicing monthly since January and learning about the historical event they will help to commemorate. “In July, Elmer DeLucia came and spoke to the students about World War II,” said Thumpston. “They were very moved with his talk. We have also talked with the performers about how important their role is in the memorial performances and how many people they will be representing.”
The young musicians will squeeze in one more practice before leaving, meeting in St. Marys on Friday evening to perfect their songs before they leave on Saturday.
Around the region students and parents found several ways to raise funds for the trip, according to Thumpston. She had indicated in March that the approximate cost per student would be $2,400. “A number of people have “supported and donated to make the honor of representing PA in this historical event a reality. Our communities have been very generous and supportive.”
Among the supporters were veterans groups. Thumpston said, “Our largest donors were the VFWs and American Legions across the state, especially our local chapters.”
The group will return from Hawaii on Dec. 9.
