[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE OLD TOWN MARCHING BAND

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Old Town 
Marching Band of Old Town, ME.
  The band made the entire State of Maine proud with its extraordinary 
performance in the 1997 Inaugural Parade. Countless hours of practice 
and preparation go into such an effort, and the students' dedication to 
excellence was obvious and stood as a wonderful tribute to the late Old 
Town Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Grady.
  I was approached early last year by Dr. Grady, who shared with me his 
dream of having the Old Town Marching Band represent Maine at this 
year's inaugural parade. Sadly, Dr. Grady passed away, but his dream 
lived on in the hearts of bandmembers and the Old Town community. Old 
Town was one of more than 400 groups seeking to perform in the parade--
only 23 were selected, and of those only 9 were high school bands.
  Old Town's participation in the 1997 Inaugural Parade is the latest 
of a long list of accomplishments. The band is nationally recognized, 
having won numerous awards including first place at the 1994 Saint 
Anselm College New England Jazz Festival, the Jazz Ensemble Grand 
Champions at the 1996 Orlando Musicfest, and an award-winning 
appearance at the 1995 Cherry Blossom parade in Washington, DC.
  Mr. President, this band represents the very best characteristics of 
America's young people. Band members set a goal of excellence and 
worked hard to achieve it, and I believe their efforts should be 
highlighted. In an era of conflicting and often dubious influences for 
young men and women, and in a time when negative stories abound in the 
media, our children should have positive examples to follow. That is 
why we should shine a spotlight on groups like the Old Town Marching 
Band, which represent the finest qualities and aspirations of America's 
youth. I salute the band as well as its director, Jeffrey Priest, for 
showing young people what can be accomplished through hard work and 
commitment.
  In closing, I would once again like to thank the Old Town Marching 
Band for their tremendous contribution to the 1997 inaugural parade, 
and for making Old Town and the State of Maine very proud.

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