Auburndale High School Band Still Thrilled Over Cherry Blossom Trek

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Auburndale bandsmen and the chaperones who accompanied them on the memorable trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival at Washington D. C. last month, are still enjoying the thrill of the excitement packed five days. The Rev. James R. Thompson of the First Baptist Church, one of the group who accompanied the band, writes of some of the highlights of the excursion.

By Rev. J. R. Thompson

Since many shared in sending our band to Washington, one way to express thanks for this community spirit is to share with the folks just what took place on that wonderful trip.

As one who went along, it was a joy to observe the well organized trip and the fine behavior of the high school band members. By the time the last good-byes were said down at the Seaboard Station the Silver Meteor was streaking north.

We watched familiar landscape until we passed Polk City. Soon a sack lunch, provided by the band patrons organization, and prepared by Mr. and Mrs. John Hammerle was passed around. Bob Rawls passed out golden delicious apples which had been donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Holloway. About mid-afternoon we were invited to the dining cars for orange juice or coffee, compliments of the Seaboard Railroad.

Near Jacksonville the fast train ran beside the highway and we gauged our speed by watching how fast we left the automobiles behind. The boys and girls settled down in congenial groups, reversing the train seats, so that some were riding backwards. Everyone seemed to agree that it was too good to be true that we were really on our way to Washington.

As night came on we had a good meal on the diner, with many of the. boys and girls cautiously watching the water glasses and coffee cups to see if the liquid would spill. It didn't.

As the train crossed into Georgia, for a few in the band, it was their first trip out of Florida.

Most of the group visited the observation car and watched the rails glisten as the train ran on into the night.

After conversation, games and snacks the porter passed out pillows and segregation began, girls in the front coach, and boys in the second coach with chaperones scattered among the two coaches.

By midnight nearly everyone was asleep. Train seats make fairly good make-shift beds. Some of the night-owls in the crowd reported that they saw snow in North Carolina during the wee hours of the morning.

Watching the view change from countryside to city, soon everyone was looking at the dome of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument as our train carried us over the Potomac River and into the great city of Washington.

Two big buses took us to our hotel where the luggage was deposited and after breakfast in the cafeteria the tour of Washington began. Jack Thomas, Seaboard representative was our tour guide and a right good one too. He met us as we boarded the train in Auburndale and never left us during the trip.

The drivers of the chartered tour buses were soon our friends with the one known as "Richy" getting a kick out of giving information such as "on the right the Capitol Apartments, rent $300 per month".

At the headquarters of the FBI we saw how well our country is protected, not only from Communism and other enemies from without, but from the criminals within our own country. One of the groups saw FBI men opening a box containing the skeleton and parts of a body. We were told that even a chip of paint, a tiny speck of blood, or soil often could give a clue. After seeing a demonstration of marksmanship, each person viewing the demonstration was given a souvenir, an empty pistol shell.

On our way to hear the Marine Band in a practice session, we got a good view of the Capitol, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. At this time the rain was coming down and the skies were black with clouds. Worst of all, rain was forecast for the Parade next day.

After lunch we visited the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Our guide explained that none of the workers were searched or bonded. She seemed proud of their record of honesty. Later we saw money being printed, stacks and stacks of $10 bills.

From there the group went to the Capitol Building. Our guide led us to Statuary Hall, the House and Senate chambers and most of our group rode the sub-way over to nearby office buildings.

Any free time was used in shops, music stores seemed to have special attraction. One group hurried to view the city from the top of the Washington Monument. Not having time to wait for the elevator they climbed the 550 steps to the top.

Dinner that night was at a Casino with good food and good music. Returning to the Houston Hotel for room assignments, the boys and some chaperones were housed on the fourth floor and the girls with other chaperones were rooming on the eighth floor.

The day of the Parade dawned with rain pouring down. Even a good breakfast seemed not to drive away our gloom. Thoughts of marching in the rain were dismissed for new uniforms and valuable instruments would be ruined and that Washington rain was cold.

Almost like a miracle the sky began to clear. Soon we were on our way to have pictures made on the Capitol steps. By the time the parade got underway the sun was shining. Our Auburndale Band marched the full length of the parade route in brilliant sunshine.

All the way cameras clicked, TV cameras and movie cameras ground away. There were nearly 700 units in the parade but so swiftly did they move that the parade lasted less than three hours. The cherry blossoms about the tidal basin were in their glory. Everywhere the Yellow daffodils and the many colored tulips brightened the day.

The White House before which our band marched gleamed in the sun. Somehow the greatness of our heritage here in free America came home to the onlookers as many high school bands and military units and floats, from all 50 states passed by.

For the first time in the Cherry Blossom Parade there were two queens. The wheel clicked a notch after stopping on Colorado's number. Vice president Johnson solved the dilemma by suggesting that both girls reign, so Rhode Island's Queen shared the throne too.

On Saturday might we took a long ride down the Potomac on a river boat. The rain was coming down again, cold and heavy. Our group enjoyed the ride on the river. The lights of Washington faded and our big boat slowed to wait for a huge draw bridge to open. On the right was the National Airport - with planes coming in about every three minutes. Larry Workman enjoyed watching them get into the pattern to come in for a landing.

Next, morning the rain was still coming down. Some of the students., attended church. Washington is filled with beautiful churches. Each church group in the Nation has placed special emphasis on their Washington Churches.

Many of the students saw the church where President Kennedy attends services. Others took a quick trip to the Smithsonian Institute.

They were awed by such sights as Lindburgh's plane. All agreed -that one needs lots of time to take in the Washington sights. Sunday afternoon we visited Lincoln Memorial and were again awed by the huge statue of Lincoln.

I Some of the band members proved that schooling has not been in vain. They recited the Gettysburg Address with their backs turned toward the inscription of it on the walls. Previously we had visited the Ford Theater, where Lincoln was shot and the house. across the street from the theater where Lincoln died.

On Sunday afternoon in Arlington National Cemetery we stood in reverence and silence at the Changing of The Guard. The guard changes each hour during daylight and every two hours during night time. Near the Tomb of the Unknowns some of our Floridians found an unmelted bank of snow and they made snow balls.

We saw the Statue of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. From there in the valley below the Potomac, the Capitol and all the central area of Washington stretched out before our eyes. In Arlington are buried many of the illustrious dead of this nation.

Down the highway that runs alongside the Potomac River we went, arriving soon at Mt. Vernon. Here is preserved for us the home of George and Martha Washington. The setting is perfect, on a slope in a bend of the river. Great old trees surround the grounds. We got in the long, long line of people going through the buildings. The furniture was beautiful, but all of us were impressed with what life was like before the homes had electric service. The kitchen was in a house apart. We saw the smoke house, the kitchen garden and the stable.

Back at the hotel for a quick supper, we loaded the bus with suitcases and band instruments and the group was soon ready to board the train for Auburndale. Tired, but with an experience never to be forgotten we rode homeward.

Our town has cooperated in many things. We are grateful to Bill Miller, the band director; and all of those who worked so hard with him to make this trip possible. Some of the bandsmen earned all of the money for their trip. Others earned only part of their expense by participating in the many fund raising projects.

The joy we shared was, dimmed as we thought of the passing of' Mrs. Morrow whose help was a major factor in assuring the trip.

But hundreds of Auburndale people helped and we are proud of our band. We've come back home with new appreciation of our country.

Jack McCarty, the champion chess player on the trip, may some day be Senator McCarty in Washington. Leonard Gill, one of the chaperones, got such a kick out of the trip that he is talking of promoting a band trip to the World's Fair in New York in 1965.

It was a wonderful experience. Those of us who went were proud to represent our town. Once while there, Mr. Miller gathered us for a special announcement and read a telegram from the Auburndale Merchant's Association, sending their best wishes to the Auburndale High School Band. It would be hard to tell when the cheers were the loudest, then or when the sun came out on the day of the parade.