The Patrick Henry High School band traveled to Hawaii on December 4, to perform in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. They were the only band picked up from Virginia. The group raised majority the money to send two-thirds of the band on the trip. Which was the biggest trip the band had ever taken.
Organizers and students said this trip was about honoring and remembering veterans, including what happened in Pearl Harbor 73 years ago. In addition to marching in the parade, students performed next to the USS Missouri, visited several memorials, and met with Pearl Harbor survivors.
While working toward this trip, the band has committed to recognizing veterans. They have performed at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem and have held a fundraising concert for vets called Patriots for Patriots. This has also been a boost to the band program, which has nearly doubled in size over the past four years.
