SW Florida high school band gearing up to play inauguration

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Marching band members at a southwest Florida high school say they’re excited to be heading to Washington to perform in the inaugural parade for President-elect Donald Trump on Friday.

The Palmetto Ridge High School Marching Pride band was gearing up Wednesday for the 22-hour bus trip, after raising money for their $135,000 expenses in a GoFundMe campaign.

Horn player Joseph O’Neil says he’s “really honored” to take part.

“Most people won’t go to an inauguration in their life, let alone the most controversial one in history,” he said.

Band director Annabelle Sarmiento said earlier this month that if the group wasn’t able to raise money it might not make it to the inauguration despite their invitation to play. But their GoFundMe campaign was a success. Lisa Scallan, a parent of one of the band members, says donations poured in not only from around the country, but from Canada and overseas.

After feature aired on Fox News about the band’s efforts to raise money for the trip Friday, the band’s GoFundMe account jumped from $36,000 raised to $151, 416 as of Wednesday, according to The Naples Daily News. The initial goal was to raise $135,000 for the trip.

“I’m very proud of them and humbled by the experience and the support we’ve gotten from all across the country and the world,” Scallan said.