52 years ago, another inauguration

January 20, 1969

Lakewood High School band and flag team march in President Richard Nixon’s inaugural parade in Washington D.C., the only band from Colorado selected to march in the parade.

The photo below has the wrong date range, but sure does look like the band I marched in when we traveled to Washington, D.C.  

I was playing the French horn in symphonic band at the time, 
but for marching band I played an alto horn.

 Denver Post Archives

DEC 1976, JAN 10 1977, JAN 12 1977 Lakewood High School (Gen) Band Lakewood High School Band Gets in Shape for Inaugural Parade in Washington The band is working toward a $45,000 goal, raising money to travel to representative, Mike Pearce, band director, said about $37,000 has Washington for the Jan. 20 event, to march in the parade as Colorado's been raised by projects, gifts. Donations may be sent to the school. Credit: Denver Post (Denver Post via Getty Images)

It was quite an experience.  We fund raised thousands of dollars to pay for our trip.  We sold everything.  I mostly remember the hairspray can sized fire extinguishers that I toted from door to door.

We stayed at an older hotel, I don't remember the name.  We were quite sure that we saw prostitutes in the coffee shop of the hotel, and were quite excited about that sighting.

We had been sternly told that we were to keep eyes forward for the whole parade, no looking at the review stand as we passed the President.  Also, we had to keep up.  Anyone not keeping pace would be diverted down a side street out of the parade.  I doubt I played a note during the parade.  I do remember sneaking a peek at the review stands as we marched by on a cold January day.

52 years ago.