In the small town of Wallington, a high school band makes a huge difference.
Wallington High School has about 500 students, and almost 10% of them are in the marching band.
The contingent of Wallington students made the trip to Boston to march in America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration, held Saturday in Plymouth, and to perform at Faneuil Hall in downtown.
"Our students have been working hard and are excited to represent their school, town and state on this trip," said band director Donald Lopuzzo.
The Wallington High School Marching Band has been around for only six years but dates to the 1950s. Directed by Lopuzzo, a former band member and now an instructor, it packs quite a punch. Though the program disappeared for a while in the early 2000s, it made its way back to school in recent years.
Having been to Norfolk, Virginia, for the NATO Parade of Nations and to West Point for a football game, this band covers varied types of events. The Massachusetts trip marked its third getaway.
Lopuzzo said Wallington's band models itself after college bands like those in the Big Ten Conference.
The 45 performers practice three times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. With about an hour of rehearsal on those days, the band works diligently and can pull off any big show with only five practices.
Each instrument is a vital part of the band, with Wallington’s being a well-balanced one. It has a tradition in which the drum majors do a strut out and backbend, like Ohio State’s marching band. With this, the band won best drum major in a previous event.
When asked what he loves about the band, Lopuzzo said some of his greatest memories were made in the band, whether it was on the field performing or at a rehearsal.
“I like to see them flourish,” he said when asked about his band members.
Despite the shrinking number of bands these days, Wallington remains strong and is ready for its next big event.
“Make your band stand out," Lopuzzo said. "Make it different. Have fun, go out and enjoy it.”