The Beckman High School Patriot Band, performing Karl King's "Peacemaker" under the direction of Jim Kollias, earned first place honors at the 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in San Diego on January 19.
The BHS Flag Team in addition finished second among color guard units. In the 10 parades the band has competed since forming four years ago, the Patriot Marching Band has finished in first place nine times.
More than 10,000 people participated in honoring Dr. King in the MLK parade at San Diego's Petco Park. This year's parade included 10 bands from Southern California.
The Beckman Patriot Band has made a clean sweep this school year, finishing in first place at the Whittier Christmas Parade and the Tiller Days Parade. The band was also invited to parade at Disneyland and the LA County Fair.
The Patriot band also performed at the Rose Bowl with the UCLA Marching Band, at seven Beckman varsity football games, and at the Veterans Day concert at the BHS Performing Arts Center.
The Beckman High School Patriot Marching Band now looks forward to appearing at the 2008 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington D.C. on April 12. The band will also perform at the Jefferson Memorial on April 11, and at the World War II Memorial on April 10.
