[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF STRAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL FLAMING ARROW INDIAN PRIDE 
                             MARCHING BAND

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                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today with pleasure and pride to pay 
tribute to the achievements of the Music Department at Strafford High 
School in Strafford, Missouri. The Strafford High Flaming Arrow Indian 
Pride Marching Band and choir will participate in the events 
surrounding the December 31, 2009, Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, 
Georgia. A long-standing event at the bowl game is the National Chick-
fil-A Bowl Band Festival.
  The music festival has clinics and competition for choir, concert 
band, jazz band and marching band. The Strafford marching band and 
choir will compete against other schools while the Marching Band will 
march in the National Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade in downtown Atlanta on 
New Year's Eve. Game day, the Strafford band will participate in a pre-
game and halftime massed band ``extravaganza'' of 2,000 members 
performing in the Georgia Dome Olympic Stadium.
  Strafford, Missouri, is my hometown. Today, Strafford has a 
population of 1,845 citizens, and the high school has approximately 400 
students. The band and choir are made up of 55 motivated, hardworking 
teens in concert and marching band, 20 students in jazz band and 36 
students in choir. The music department is under the direction of Shane 
Harmon.
  The Strafford High Flaming Arrow Indian Pride Marching Band 
consistently ranks among the best bands in Missouri, earning first 
place at six judged events this year. At the 2007 Outback Bowl in 
Tampa, Florida, the Strafford concert band, jazz band and marching band 
each earned a 1st place Silver rating, and the concert choir earned a 
1st place Gold rating. These achievements led to the invitation to 
participate at the band festival at the Chick-fil-A Bowl. This 
recognition is the result of long hours of practice, and dedication to 
excellence by Strafford students, faculty and their families.

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