Love a Parade?

I've always loved parades. Maybe that's because I've marched in so many of them. As a kid growing up in Connecticut, I joined a fife, drum, and bugle corps at the age of 8. It took two years, but I learned to play a snare drum well enough to participate in dozens of firemen's parades.

From there I joined a competing drum and bugle corps, and never looked back.

Even though we marched primarily in contests, there were always one or two parades to do each season. That's why, all these years later, the most interesting element of Barack Obama's inauguration for me is the huge parade through the streets of DC.

To be chosen to march in an inaugural parade is the highest honor for any marching musical organization. Even though it's January, and it may be cold enough to horn player's lips freeze to their mouthpieces, this parade is something special. I already knew about a couple of groups that were making the trip to participate.

World class drum and bugle corps like the Cadets from Allentown, Pa. and the Colts from Dubuque, Iowa will be there, as will the Grambling State Tiger Marching Band, the the Fightin Blue Hens from the University of Delaware.


Grambling State University Marching Band


Imagine my surprise, then, when I read an article in the New York Times about the drumline of the Bonnie Brae Residential Treatment Center in New Jersey. They'll be there too, and therein lies an interesting story, one that resonates with me on a personal level.

Bonnie Brae is a place for boys ages 8-18 who can't live in the community because of "psychiatric and behavioral challenges". Most have been abused or neglected, and have not adjusted to foster care.


Bonnie Brae Knights


The Bonnie Brae Knights, as they are called, began about four years ago. When their original instructor retired, they hired a couple of people from the Spirit of Newark Drum and Bugle Corps, a corps that competes on a natiional level.

Their director, Harold Wright, is an old friend of mine. In fact, we played bass drum together in a corps, the New York Skyliners, more than a quarter century ago. It was Harold Wright who took the Bonnie Brae Knights to the next level, teaching them the marching and drumming skills that enabled them to get that invitation to the inaugural parade.

Reading the Times piece, with Harold barking out orders to these 15 kids, made me feel, oddly enough, involved with their story. Harold Wright is now 72 years old. He grew up and came of age of the streets of Newark. He and I shared a bond as close as two human beings can during the time we marched together. I know the exact combination of toughness and caring Harold uses with those kids at Bonnie Brae, and the kids from the corps he leads.

There aren't many people left like Harold Wright. Believe me, he doesn't do what he does...for the money. Literally hundreds of young people have benefitted from his leadership. That's what will be on display as the Bonnie Brae Knights strut their stuff in Washington next week.

Which highlight of the inauguration will you be looking forward to? The music, the poets, the speeches, the pageantry, or, just simply saying bye-bye Bush?