Donation campaigns for Hillhouse Marching Band to participate in the Memorial Day Parade in DC – NBC Connecticut

A New Haven high school marching band asks for the help of the community to take part in Washington, DC to take part in the National Memorial Day Parade.

Joshua Smith is the band director at Hillhouse High and Alumnus of the school.

Smith started working in Hillhouse in 2020. At that time he realized that the school department was not available.

They rebuilt the band department between Smith and its students, and it has led to an invitation to take part in the National Memorial Day Parade in the capital of the nation.

“I am amazed by some of my students, especially about those who have been with me from the start,” said Smith.

Smith said that you are working on collecting 45,000 US dollars before May to travel to Washington, DC, and 3 to 4 days with the entire brass band.

“At the moment we are far from reaching our goal, so we really pray and hope that someone will sponsor and donate in any way,” he said.

The Hillhouse Marching Band consists of students with a different background.

Senior Matthias Cruz joined the band in his first year. He believes that it would be astonishing to take part in the Memorial Day Parade as they are added that they are a group that deserves the opportunity.

“We are sitting in this bandroom until it is dark outside and it is as if I was finally getting this recognition that I deserve,” said Cruz.

Sophomore Peter Britto described the invitation as an honor and hopes that the community will help to become a reality.

“I have the feeling that it will be something that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I will have a great time and I'll tell people what I did,” said Britto.