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Band-A-Rama to feature 16 school bands, numerous twirlers
Colorful patriotic medley begins at 2 p.m.
Numerous colorful marching bands playing patriotic music is what can be expected Monday afternoon during the 2012 Veterans Day Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama at Rankin Stadium, 1701 E. Putnam Ave.
Just prior to the event, the 2012 Veterans Day Queen and Miss Porterville Anna Moore will arrive with her royal court — Madison Rice, senior princess; Dayna Breland, first princess; Camille Manning, second princess; and Courtney Hall, third princess — to reign over the festivities.
The musical extravaganza begins with a preshow at 1:40 p.m. by the Orosi High School Band, under the direction of Ed McCue.
With Eric Ball returning as master of ceremonies, the full show is slated to begin at 2 p.m. with Scout Troup No. 132 walking in with a large American flag. They will parade around the track, stopping in front of the stands for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The parade of bands follows with the 16 bands marching in and being featured one at a time before taking their place on the field.
Once all of the bands are on the field, Porterville High School Panther Band Director Jim Kusserow will direct the mass band in the playing of the National Anthem as the large flag is unfurled across the west side bleachers and the American flag is raised by the Veterans Color Guard.
The bands will participate in a mass band performance in the playing of patriotic music.
In addition, nearly 70 majorettes and twirlers from the bands and from several local twirl groups from the Porterville area will have a few minutes in the limelight as they twirl and whirl to the U.S. Navy’s “Anchor’s Aweigh” and “The Marines’ Hymn.”
In all, more than 1,000 students from the Porterville and surrounding area will participate in the Band-A-Rama.
Bands performing include the following high schools and directors: Cesar E. Chavez, Alex Gonzalez; Granite Hills, Kenny Ormonde; Monache, Justin Adams; Orosi, Ed McCue; Porterville, Jim Kusserow; Strathmore, Norm Campbell; and Summit Charter Collegiate Academy, Stephen Smith.
Elementary and Middle School bands include, Pioneer Middle School, Jack Amaral; Bartlett Middle School, Kathleen Smith; Burton Middle School, Donna Steigleder; Rockford Elementary, Snider Hendrickson; Strathmore Elementary, George Baker; Sequoia Middle School, Macheala Thron; El Monte Middle School, Richard McCue; Woodlake Valley Middle School, Nicole Lantello; and Carl Smith Middle School, Ted Wuth.
Many of the band directors are local or area high school graduates, including Kusserow and Gonzalez from Porterville High; Adams, Ed McCue, Steigleder and Baker, Monache; and Thron, Tulare Union.
Following the mass band performance, four high-school bands will perform shows, including Cesar Chavez Titan Band, Porterville Panther Band, Granite Hills Grizzly Band and the Monache Marauder Band.
There is no free transportation around the stadium this year, but Porterville Transit Routes 3 and 8 do offer bus transportation to Rankin Stadium and back through 5 p.m.
