CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. — A high school band from Calhoun County is the only band representing South Carolina in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
The band will leave Wednesday for DC to perform a selection in the parade, including 'American the Beautiful'.
The 50-person band has come a long way to performing for a national audience from last year, says director Travis Lawton.
"When I got here there were about six people on the band if I'm not mistaken," said Lawton, who personally recruited band members. "The first Friday we went out and they marched out and I looked at them, and the next Friday it got better and better and I said this is the group.”
He sent in a video to enter the group to march in the parade. 77
Some just-graduated seniors came back to perform in the parade, like Kenyon Stroman. who is also from DC.
"I was heavily around the parade almost every time I was there and to actually now be in the parade is actually kind of sick, it’s fun," said Stroman.
Many of the students are proud to be recognized nationally, especially being from a small town, says trombone player Ethan Alsup.
"A lot of people don’t think little old St. Matthews has a lot of talent but here we are making ourselves known," said Alsup
The parade is a mile-long and walks from Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street.
It will begin at 11:45 am on Thursday.