Band director Candace Edstrand was excited to see her students perform in Times Square during the Veterans Day Parade and also to see her students being able to talk to some veterans that were marching in the parade.

“The parade was televised and included veterans and bands from all over the country. Our students were able to talk with many veterans marching in the parade prior to our step-off. The ability to connect with so many people and hear about their experiences and then being able to honor their service and sacrifices was a privilege,” Edstrand said.

According to Dr. Edstrand, the most enjoyable moments from the trip was when the students performed in Father Duffy Square.

“One of the most enjoyable experiences was performing in the middle of Times Square. The Marching Knights performed in Father Duffy Square which is in the heart of Times Square. Despite the rain, the lights, sounds, sights, crowds, and overall atmosphere made this performance quite amazing and unforgettable,” Edstrand said.

Junior Nick Silk plays in the drumline for the Marching Band. According to Silk, New York was an amazing experience.

“My favorite part of the trip was just being in the city because it is a lot different from Chicago in many ways and gave us a lot of things to do, like going to the 9/11 museum where we saw all the broken building pieces from the World Trade Center and a memorial for those people who lost their lives. We also saw the famous Statue of Liberty and watched a Lion King play,” Silk said.