Boyertown students showcase talent, march in Boyertown Halloween Parade
Many Boyertown Area Senior High School students from every grade participated in the annual Boyertown Halloween Parade on Oct. 23 and were glad to be back after the gap year.
The student groups that participated in the parade included the marching band unit, baton twirling organizations and BASH’s NJROTC Unit.
The BASH Marching Band is made up of students who play an instrument, the drumline, and the color guard. There are many kids in the band, and they got to march in the parade for the first time in a year. For some students, this was their first year, but for most, they were glad to be back with their bandmates and to be performing for local residents once again. Many of the seniors were thrilled to be able to be in the Halloween parade one final year after they have been doing it for several years.
Junior Anastasia Davis, who was in the color guard, said, “This year was special, mainly because we did get to do it this year after having to miss it last year, but it just felt more real and also a little all over the place.”
For baton twirlers, the Boyertown Halloween Parade has been something they have done for years. This is the one time of year that these students get to break out a special type of baton. They use fire batons only this time of year which is a regular baton with ends on them that are all cloth and then are dipped in a flammable mixture so that they light on fire. Every year, these groups twirl in this parade and impress the residents with the dangerous act, but the students that twirl these types of batons have been twirling for many years and safely practice with them before performing in the parade.
Freshman Sophia Evans exclaimed, “I like twirling fire and it is important to me because I got to see all of the people that I didn’t last year.”
She is new to twirling fire and loves every bit of the thrill, which brings that energy out of the crowd when performing.
BASH’s NJROTC Unit also marches in the Halloween Parade. They have some cadets with them along with their color guard carrying rifles and flags. This group being in the parade has been a staple in the high school for a very long time. Most of the students in NJROTC show up to this event and spend time with other cadets.
The parade this year was made special for NJROTC’s officer and senior Madison Ward.
“It was my last Halloween parade. Also, the 6thgrade girls that I coach for Optimist Cheer placed 2nd in the parade.”
She also believes that being in the parade is a “way to be a part of the community and to spend time with fellow cadets in NJROTC.”
Not only were students involved in the parade, but this year was extra special because Boyertown Areas Senior High’s very own telecommunications students had the opportunity to work behind the scenes of the parade and film it.
Senior Isaac Miller was involved with filming and commentating on the parade. This was a unique opportunity for the telecommunications students because, in previous years, none of the other students had this opportunity. Boyertown telecommunications teacher Bill Cherkasky was there along with a crew of students who used the equipment and worked together to make this time possible.
All in all, these students put in a lot of time and effort to be in the parade and work behind the scenes. This year was especially important to the seniors at BASH because they were able to do their last Boyertown Halloween Parade with their friends that they have all grown up with and it was a special night for them. BASH cannot wait to see what its students will do next year in the parade!
Cheyenne Williams, an intern for The Mercury and the Boyertown Times, is a student at Boyertown Area High School.