Farmington Band Plans D.C. Trip, Starts To Raise Money

FARMINGTON — The Farmington High School Band is opening the school year with a little rock-n-roll and will close out the year in June with a trip to Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

The band has been invited to represent Arkansas in ceremonies to observe the anniversary of the Civil War events and will perform in concert at the Lincoln Memorial and at Gettysburg National Military Park. The trip will be open to all band members in 8th grade through 12th grade, as well as band students who graduated in 2011.

This trip follows a similar journey to Washington D.C., six years ago, when the Cardinal band represented Arkansas as part of a mass high school group brought together

to sing and play the National Anthem on Flag Day 2007.

The commemoration is being planned by Music Celebration at the request of the National Park Service.

Band Director Jim Spillars said an Arkansas unit fought at Gettysburg and Arkansas placed a monument at the military park in the 1950s in memory of the Arkansas soldiers. The band has been asked to place a wreath at this Arkansas monument next summer.

The Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863, and ended on July 3, 1863. According to the national park's website, the conflict was the largest battle ever fought in North America and by the time the battle was over, 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg on Nov. 19, 1863, during a ceremony to dedicate the Gettysburg National Cemetery for Union soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

“To me, it's a great honor to be asked to perform,” Spillars said. “Our nation's capital is a phenomenal experience for our students.”

In addition to performing two concerts and going to the military park, the band will visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Capitol and the Smithsonian Museum.

The cost for each student or chaperone will be $750 and this includes breakfast and dinner while in Washington, D.C., hotel and transportation. The band will sponsor fundraising activities throughout the year to raise money for the trip and is also accepting donations to help defray the costs for each student. For more information about the trip, contact Spillars at 266-1880.

In the meantime, band members are preparing for the regular activities that come each fall.

This year's marching show theme is “Rock of Ages” and the band will perform music from the “Rock of Ages” movie and Broadway musical.

The classic rock- n- roll show will open with “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar and close with “Don't Stop Believing” by Journey. Other music includes “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi and a percussion feature to “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Drum majors this year are seniors Presley Ramey and Bree Balentine.

The newest member of the band staff is assistant band director and percussion specialist Jason Edwards. Edwards came to Farmington from Mineral Springs School District. He graduated from Greenbrier High School and the University of Central Arkansas.

The band is scheduled to participate in three marching contests: Oct 9 in Elkins, Oct. 20 at Heritage High School and Oct. 23 at Springdale High School.