Wildcats to Horn In on Inaugural

When the scarlet-and-gold 150-member Wildcat marching band of Glen A. Wilson High School steps off Jan. 21 to the music of “The Purple Carnival,” it will be in a musical Olympics of sorts. The group will be marching in the President’s inaugural parade, which like the Olympics comes only once in four years.

But, also in the manner of the Olympics, the band from Hacienda Heights won’t be able to dip into public coffers to pay its way. In the case of the young Wildcats, they must come up with the equivalent of $550 per member.

Although the Wildcat aggregation didn’t make the inaugural team four years ago, it has had plenty of experience in the heady atmosphere of big-time bandsmanship, including two stints in the Rose Parade and winning the Dodger baseball team’s Battle of the Bands--twice. And there have been two junkets to Hawaii, a 23-day tour of Europe and a formal appearance in Sacramento two years ago for the rededication of the state Capitol.

The youths will arrive in Washington next Thursday and return to Southern California the following Tuesday. The inaugural parade is on Monday. While in Washington the musicians plan to visit historic sites, including the White House.

People wishing to help defray travel expenses for the Wildcat band have been asked to telephone the high school at (818) 330-0621.