Bishop High School band invited to march in Washington

Broncos to march in Memorial day event on behalf of Rep. Kiley

The Bishop Union High School band and color guard will be marching in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. May 27 at the invitation of Congressman Kevin Kiley, who represents the Third Congressional District in California, which includes Inyo County.

The Bishop Broncos band was one of only four bands invited by the congressman to the event..

Members of the Bishop High School band and color guard will be representing the district from the Eastern Sierra to the Central Valley of California.

The 45 students who will be making the trip have been conducting fundraisers all year long to attend, with each student having to come up with $1,500 in order to attend,

However, through their fundraising efforts and a huge donation of $20,000 from a local resident, the cost per student was whittled down to $700 each.

Students are still seeking funds to cut that cost down even further.

Funds include airfare, hotel, coach to and from all sightseeing opportunities and participation in the parade itself. This is included in the student total cost and reflected on the invoice.

Those who want to donate can send their checks/money orders to Bishop Union High School, c/o Marching Band, 301 N. Fowler St., Bishop CA, 93514.

For more information, call (760) 873-4275.

“This is my fourth year as the band director for the district and my eighth year of teaching band,” said Ryan Mills, the high school’s band director.

Mills said this is the second year of competitive marching for the marching band, which goes to multiple competitions a year and competes against other schools in “the marching arts.”

“I love giving students the opportunity to travel and gain life experiences through their music,” Mills said. “The program in the district is currently at 200 students from fifth through 12th grade. Annually we march in multiple parades and present concerts every winter and spring.”

The student’s trip tho the nation’s capital will take place from May 25 – 28 for three nights and four days.

Sightseeing opportunities for the students include a panoramic motorcoach tour of historic Washington, D.C., including a visit to Lafayette Square for a photo opportunity of the White House as well as an evening walking tour of the Lincoln, Korean,

Martin Luther King, Jr., Vietnam, National World War II Memorial, a view of the outside of the Washington Monument, as well as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, among other points of interest.

Students during their trip also will have a chance to visit and tour of the National Archives, to see the founding documents of the United States – the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Emancipation Proclamation, as well as explore one or more of the Smithsonian Museums.

The National Memorial Day Parade honors the memory of servicemen and servicewomen who died serving the U.S.

Photo by Gayla Wolf/The Honey Bee – To see other event pictures, call Gayla Wolf, (760) 872-4015 Churches and organizations throughout the Eastern Sierra hosted Easter Egg Hunts, including this one on Sunday that was hosted by the local Bishop Elks Lodge at Elks Park Sunday in Bishop. The Elks Easter Egg Hunt is traditionally a popular event and this year proved no different with more than 400 people attending the event.