Hometown Pride at This Year's Orange Bowl

It has been way too many years since I graduated from Oelwein Community High School. & almost as long since I moved to DBQ. But I still try to keep up with what goes on in my hometown. So when I saw this bit of news about the Huskies Marching Band returning to the Orange Bowl I have to admit that I greeted the news with great joy & a little pride (of the spiritually correct kind, I hope.)

Huskies Band will be making another trip to Orange Bowl

Oelwein Daily Register

Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:28 AM CDT
OELWEIN - The Pride of the Huskies Marching Band has been extended an invitation to march with 1500 other band students from across the United States at the Orange Bowl 2008 Game. The Oelwein High School students will be competing in parade competition and field show competition, as well as performing with many other band students in a star-studded Orange Bowl Halftime.

There are 86 students and 12 chaperones who will be traveling to Miami. They will be leaving early on Dec. 29, and returning early in the morning on Jan. 5, 2008. This marks the second time in eight years that the band has been invited to participate in the Orange Bowl festivities.

The last time they appeared during Orange Bowl festivities was in 2000. In 2004 the band traveled by invitation to the Alamo Bowl. Other places the band has appeared over the years include being a class winner at the Iowa State Fair Parade, performing in Kansas City, Rapid City, SD, Washington DC, New York City, and Orlando, FL.

The band will be performing their Fall Competition Show, "Pirates of the Caribbean," for competition. The band is still trying to secure funds for the trip. Financial help is welcomed. Drum Majors are Tia Derflinger, Krista Hannasch and Kurt Bearinger. Color Guard captains are Heather Butzlaff and Erika Recker. The "Pride," is directed by Doug McFarlane with assistance from Les Aldrich and student teacher Melissa Hageman. The Color Guard is directed by Susan McFarlane.