By Michael Fry
The Veteran’s Day Parade brought out the best in our local
school bands and it was a beautiful day for a parade. This year,
the Rancho San Justo / Maze Middle Schools and San Benito High
School marched in the downtown Hollister parade.
By Michael Fry
The Veteran’s Day Parade brought out the best in our local school bands and it was a beautiful day for a parade. This year, the Rancho San Justo / Maze Middle Schools and San Benito High School marched in the downtown Hollister parade.
The parade began with the National Anthem and a Military Color Guard. Several distinguished military groups and politicians followed next in the parade as they passed in front of the Veteran’s Memorial Building on San Benito Street. Early in the parade, the San Benito High School’s Scarlet Regiment Marching Band set up in front of the parade stand. The band is under the direction of James R. Zuniga and the color guard is under the direction of Camille Zuniga. Drum Major Michelle Juarez called the band to attention and began to twirl her mace through the air with ease. The march began, playing the march song “Through Bolts and Bars.” The band marched in their formal parade uniforms, with 13 members in the color guard and 36 members playing instruments.
The Scarlet Regiment has recently competed in four band reviews and has now finished their competitions. The band has been very competitive, placing from fourth to first in marching and music. The drum major Juarez has placed from third to first in the mace category, including a first two weeks ago in the Mace category at a marching band competition in Pacific Grove on Saturday. The band earned a third place in the marching/music category and the Color Guard placed fifth.
It has been a successful year for the Scarlet Regiment. Mr. Zuniga told the band that our community knows the high school has a marching band. Then he said, “It is very important for our community to see what we do.”
Toward the end of the parade, the Rancho / Maze Middle School Marching Band performed. The band is under the direction of Joe Ostenson. The band lined up in front of the parade stand with their color guard in front with their sharp-looking blue flags. Drum Major David Bergen commanded the leadership and called out the command to begin the march. The marching band played their march song “Children of the Shrine.”
Rancho/Maze has about 100 members marching. As they marched down San Benito Street, there was a sea of white sweatshirts and black dress pants. The band was well received by the crowd as they marched in formation.
These two bands will be in the holiday “Lights on Parade” later this month. Both of these bands bring great joy and pride to our community. Hollister is blessed to have two great band directors, Ostenson and Zuniga, leading these students year after year. Show them your appreciation the next time you see them in your community. The marching bands will keep on marching.
