MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown High School Red & Blue Marching Band, founded in 1927, is preparing for a commemorative trip to Pearl Harbor.
December 2016 will mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II bombing.
According to Jeff Davis with the MHS marching band auxiliary, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade Foundation selected the more than 250 member group to perform in Honolulu in the memorial parade.
“It’s a wonderful honor that the Morgantown High band had been selected to do this,” Davis said. “There are 8 high school bands that have been selected representing each of the ships that were sunk.”
Students are researching the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. In November, during Veterans Day ceremonies, a Pearl Harbor survivor shared his memories of the “date that will live in infamy.”
“He was actually on a little shuttle boat in the middle of the harbor going between the West Virginia battleship and shore when the attack started. We brought him in. He spoke through town. The kids got to meet him. He was a wonderful gentleman, Mr. Richard Cunningham,” Davis added.
The battleship took two bombs and 7 torpedoes in the attack. More than 100 crew members were killed.
The ship was recovered, repaired and later stopped Japanese battleships trying to attack in the Battle of Surigao Strait.
While paying tribute to the men and women who died, band members will also visit The Arizona Memorial.
“You get an opportunity to raise a flag while you’re out there. We’re going to raise two flags – once which will be presented to the cultural center in Charleston to be put in the display with the memorabilia about the USS West Virginia,” said Davis.
Additionally, students will place a wreath to honor the 3,784 who have served on the USS West Virginia near her mooring site.
The honor to perform in the commemorative ceremony comes at a cost of approximately $2,900 dollars per student.
Fundraising is ongoing and information can be found on the band website.