Veteran’s day, it’s a holiday that isn’t known by many people let alone even recognized by anyone besides veterans themselves.  Here at the Newport high school we recognize our local veterans every year by hosting a Veterans Day assembly that is dedicated to our family, friends and relatives that have served in the armed forces.

Before the ceremony begins all high school students are placed in the correct order freshman, sophomores, juniors and finally seniors.  The assembly begins with the Boy Scouts representing the colors. The pep band directed by Ms. Bell then went ahead and played the national anthem.  The next song that the band played was called “Armed Forces on Parade,” arranged by Andrew Balent. The number contains all the brief short songs represented by every branch of the military.  The song includes themes such as; the Navy’s “Anchors Aweigh,” the Marine’s Hymn, The Air Force song and lastly the Army’s “Caisson Song.”  The song is quite nice in the way that it really sums up all the military branches into one well pieced arrangement with a march tempo.

Once the band finished playing there musical number a guest speaker was brought in from the war and discussed his opinion about the war and the conditions in Afghanistan.  He discussed how his participation in liberating Afghans from Al Qaida terrorists changed the way he looked at Americans freedom.  The last bit of the assembly was a quiet time where names of people that had graduated from Newport High School that had been in the armed forces.  The assembly drew to a close as all the student classes where dismissed to there next class.  Even if you don’t have a family member or close relative who has served, take time to think about all the people who have shed blood so you could have your freedoms and rights.  It was once said; “We will always remember.  We will always be proud.  We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.” – President Ronald Reagan

Frosty breath fills the horns as eager musicians try to warm up their brittle instruments. Just moments before the NHS football team enters the field, the players turn their pep books to the school song. The cheerleaders run out with the school flag and the band director, Ms. Bell lifts her hands to begin directing the song.

The pep band puts a great deal of time into rehearsing for the football and basketball games. Each person plays a key role in producing that brilliant rock and roll sound. They practice every single day and they even take their horns home to practice during the weekend when they could be doing something else like playing outside or being with their friends. They also have to find time to practice for the Veteran’s Day assembly performance and their concert music, such as the Christmas concert. “I love seeing how a piece turns out. From the sight reading, to the everyday practice, to being able to hear the final product,” says Michelle Clark, a clarinet player.

There are a great variety of instruments played in the band. There are flutes, clarinets, and saxophones of all voice ranges, trumpets, trombones, basses and percussion instruments. That’s a lot of talent! Ms. Bell’s personal favorite song is “Devil With The Blue Dress,” or as she wittingly relates it to football, “Devil With The Blue Cleats.”

“It supports the teams at school and kids really like it. It helps us get out of school and go to tournaments.” There are many ambitions the band has as a whole. They aspire to attend the regional band contest in Spokane Washington where they would be competing against other schools. But, they can only do as much as funding allows. Usually they attend the Spokane Opera, which is offered free to the band members, but the bus ride to get there is a different story. The band also used to attend a yearly Panorama Music Festival, but that has also been cut from the schedule due to poor funds. They get by though, with the weekly pep game and the love of the audience.

“The audience is appreciative and expects to hear great music when they go to the games,” says Ms. Bell. Just being in the audience when the band is playing makes you feel like part of it. You can tell they’re just as thrilled to be there if not more than everyone else.