Thursday, July 17, 2025
Mainly known for their local school concerts, 50 members of the West Hempstead Secondary School’s marching band jumped at the opportunity to perform on the national stage in Washington, D.C. on May 26.
The West Hempstead Rams Marching Band was one of 22 high school marching bands across the country invited to play at the National Memorial Day Parade.
The three-hour parade included more than 10,000 participants who marched down Constitution Avenue, alongside the National Mall, between 7th and 17th streets. For 20 years, the American Veterans Center has organized the parade to honor veterans from every conflict the United States has been involved in since World War I.
Music Celebrations International, an Arizona-based performance tour company, coordinated the parade’s musical processions. Each year, the group invites bands from across the country to play in the parade.
Last April, Benjamin Coleman, the Secondary School’s band director, received an invitation to participate in the parade, but he didn’t accept until September.
“It was a daunting task because, really, this was our first parade,” he said. “We’ve done local marching for our Homecoming Day parade, but this was our first ‘real’ parade.”
Students who signed up for the trip began learning the music selections, while balancing their existing musical, athletic and academic responsibilities. Then, in February, the band’s preparation was taken to the next level.
Spence Howell, Long Island University’s marching band director, was brought in by the school district to help prepare the band.
“It was basically a crash course in just steps one through 10, the beginning of marching band,” Howell said.
Howell’s 15 years of experience allowed him to guide the band through the basics of marching and playing in a parade.
“It started from the ground up — how to stand with your heels together, with good posture, how to hold your instrument,” Howell shared. “All the little things you don’t think you ever have to think of, they had to learn from zero, with nobody in the entire program having any marching band experience.”
Howell then brought in Samantha DiGiorgio, a student leader in LIU’s color guard who set up five West Hempstead students with the proper color guard equipment, teaching them how to throw and spin the flags while marching in a parade.
Despite many outside commitments, the students made it to seven consecutive Monday night training sessions with Coleman and Howell.
The students were bused to the nation’s capital on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and followed MCI’s itinerary until they returned the following Tuesday.
Expenses for the trip cost the band more than $40,000, with the West Hempstead community working tirelessly to raise funds to help offset the costs. The Jeanine Heller Foundation, a local nonprofit, cut costs in half by donating $20,000, while Denise Lauth, Lisa Noriega and Katie Haberstroh, all of whom have children in the band, formed a parent committee that organized bake sales, fundraisers and more.
Local businesses also pitched in by collecting funds. Students sold chocolate bars and popcorn to support their trip. Those who reside outside the district and neighbors from nearby towns also made donations.
“It was nice to see the whole community reach out and support this,” Noriega said. “That was just amazing and humbling.”
“It was a group effort,” Lauth said. “It was really, really good to see those kids enjoy a trip of a lifetime.”
The money they raised helped the band purchase new uniforms, a banner, color guard flags, shirts and more.
Upon the students’ arrival in Washington, D.C., an MCI tour guide greeted them. They were led on a walking tour of the capital, before enjoying the National Memorial Day Concert at the National Mall. They were entertained with several music performances; Gene Simmons, bassist and co-lead singer of the rock band Kiss, addressed the audience; and veterans who served in World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Gulf War gave speeches.
“Some of the kids had tears in their eyes,” Lauth said. “They thought it was just going to be this musical concert, it really wasn’t. It brought home the whole reason why they were there, why they have this parade.”
On the morning of the parade, the students toured Ford’s Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. They then gathered in a staging area before embarking on a march down Constitution Avenue.
“At such a young age, I got to experience something so big,” Julianna Poirot, a freshman alto-saxophone player, said. “To have this opportunity to be in this parade, any parade even, but especially this big one for the country, it’s really amazing.”
Thousands of onlookers lined the parade route, cheering on those who marched to honor the many who have fought for the country.
“The idea that we could perform at a national parade, it was a really big honor, not only for me, but the entire band,” Sofia Sheehan, a senior, said. Sheehan, who plays the snare drum, added, “it was really nerve-racking, but an extremely rewarding experience. It was really exciting that we could show our talents on national TV and honor the entire community.”
The parade was broadcast on local and national TV stations, reaching millions. “I was so incredibly proud about the kids performing in this, and it was just so much fun to see them on television,” Noriega said.
This year’s parade honored the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
“The history of marching bands is very militaristic and connected to national identity,” Howell said. “It all started in parades, so getting to go march in Washington, D.C., these kids got to tap into a special piece of American musical history.”
Before their departure, the band visited the National Museum of African American History, which Coleman stated had an immense impact on the students.
Coleman decided to participate in the parade out of love for the community. “I think West Hempstead is a wonderful place and a hidden gem,” he said. “I wanted to bring recognition to not only the music program, but I also wanted to bring a sense of pride for West Hempstead. This was a really big moment for the school district and the community. They were so proud of the kids, and I think it bonded the community in a way I didn’t expect.”
“It was much more than just marching and playing for the National Memorial Day Parade,” Coleman said. “It succeeded in creating a closeness that I’ve always wanted in my groups through the years, and this parade certainly did it.”
