[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 30, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING MELANIE WARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melanie Ward.
  Melanie was recently chosen as a member of the U.S. Army All-American 
Marching Band, a national honor ensemble for outstanding musician-
scholars.
  Each year, only 125 students are chosen from the thousands who apply 
to the Army All-American Marching Band. Only students with superior 
musical ability, academic achievement, and positive standing in the 
community are selected to represent their school in this elite group. 
Students are selected by the National Association for Music Education 
to represent their state and local communities at the U.S. Army All-
American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
  Melanie was selected for one of twenty positions reserved for the 
band's color guard and she certainly fits the mold for this elite 
group. She is the editor of the Parkview High School yearbook, an award 
winning cross country runner and captain of the school band's color 
guard.
  The marching band members will perform for thousands of active duty 
military members at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January. The 
U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a football game made up of the best high 
school seniors from around the country. Together, the marching band and 
football team represent the best their schools have to offer in the 
arts and physical education.
  Mr. Speaker, Melanie's hard work and determination in both academics 
and music have earned her a spot on the U.S. Army All-American Marching 
Band. I am proud of her achievements and honored to call her a neighbor 
in the 7th Congressional District of Missouri.