July 27, 2013 -- Honor America Days Parade Rome, NY

Bravo!! To the city of Rome for consistently hosting one of the area’s largest and grandest parades. This was the 30th year that Rome has hosted its annual Honor America Days and the parade is a red, white, and blue display of patriotic enthusiasm.

There were 14 divisions in this 3 hour parade and the Red Band was placed at the end of division 10. Another band, The Excelsior Cornet Band, was at the beginning of our division. They are a Civil War band and use authentic antique brass instruments and percussion and are based in Syracuse, NY.

History is such a big part of Rome and its parade. Going back to August 26, 1758, Fort Stanwix was constructed to protect the area during the French and Indian War as well as playing a vital role during the Revolution.

On July 4, 1817 – the 1st shovelful of dirt was dug in Rome to start construction of the Erie Canal.

It was also home to Griffiss Air Force Base from 1942-1995.

Rome’s claim to fame doesn’t stop there – Francis Bellamy, the author of the Pledge of Allegiance lived here and is buried in Rome.

La Banda Rossa is honored to be part of Rome’s parade – after all this is our 108th year so we have quite a lot of history of our own.

It wasn’t hard to spot us – we were directly behind a very tall Uncle Sam on stilts and his ultra-agile unicycle companion.

The weather was perfect – the crowd was huge – lots of bands, balloon, and floats. Can’t rave enough about this one.

VIVA ROME!

VIVA AMERICA!!

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Rome Honor America Parade

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

July 21, 2013 - Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Church Festival Utica, NY

The week-long 90°+ heat wave broke in time for the Mount Carmel Church Festival and it seems everyone turned out to enjoy a sunny yet comfortable afternoon.

The Red Band was poised in front of the Church at the conclusion of the 10:30am Mass as the Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel emerged followed by a large group of Parishioners.

Very few of them dispersed – instead they followed the Saint and the Blessed Sacrament in Procession. It was the longest Procession in many a year – perhaps because of a change made this year.

Instead of going through the streets of East Utica and making 5 stops to recite the Rosary – this procession just went around the block to the outdoor Shrine for Benediction.

It has been noted that these shorter Processions allow more of the older Parishioners to participate and be part of the celebration.

After Benediction it seemed that everyone stayed around the Church grounds longer to enjoy food and music.

We played a 2 hour concert on an elevated, tented stage (our 38 musicians just fit on the platform) before a very large audience sitting under a tent of their own.

It was a lovely way to spend an old-fashioned Sunday afternoon in East Utica.

VIVA Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Parish

 

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Mt. Carmel Festival

VIVA LA BANDA   ROSSA!!!

July 14, 2013 - Boliermaker Road Race Utica NY

Under hot, humid, sunny skies, the Boilermaker Road Race started at 7:15am with a 5k race, a 15k wheelchair race at 7:45am, and the main event – the 15k race at 8:00am.

The Red Band was setup just before the 2 miler marker and we were ready to play for the 1st wheelchair racers to come by.

Because they speed by so fast and by 2 miles they are already spread out from each other - we play our shortest number as they race by. We play an Italian fanfare type march – “The Marcia Reale” for each one of them.

By 8:07am the first elite runners reached us and at 8:09am the first elite women passed by (this gap between the men and women has gotten smaller over the years – you go girls!)

The Band quickly started our concert – Arlene selects quick-step numbers such as marches, polkas, and Italian favorites such as Funiculi-Funicula, the Tarentella, and the Beer Barrel Polka (perhaps to inspire them to the finish line at the Matt’s Brewery.

It seemed at times like we were also racing – we played 17 songs by 8:46am when the last runner went by.

The efficiency of this event is remarkable – by 9am the streets were being swept and the runners, the chairs, the water station, and the Red Band were gone!

 

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Boiler Maker Road Race

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

July 13, 2013 - New York Mills Bell Parade

According to a recent article in the Utica OD – the story of the Bell Parade reveals the history of the actual bell which is now displayed in Pulaski Park on Main St. in New York Mills.

The bell originally belonged to the AD Julliard & Co. this mill produced corduroy and velveteen textiles. The bell was used much like a school bell – to call its employees to work. The mill closed in 1951.

It pealed for fires and later rang curfew for kids at 9:00pm.

After the mill the bell was used by Sacred Heart Church until 1993 and then was gifted to NY Mills to be used in a village monument.

The Bell Festival began in 2000 and every July it kicks off with a parade.

The Red Band led the parade at 5pm on Saturday, July 13 – a very sunny, warm, and humid summer day. We marched down Main St. followed by the New York Mills Fire Dept.

We ended at the Park where entertainment continued through the night ending with a display of fireworks.

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New York Mills Bell Parade

 VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!

July 7, 2013 - Sacred Heart-St. Mary's New York Mills

The Red Band was asked to play in a short procession following the 11:00am Mass at Sacred Heart/St. Mary Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in New York Mills.

The Mass was a special “Celebration of the Priesthood” and honored Msgr. Adolph Kantor’s 70th anniversary and Fr. Arthur Krawczenko’s 10th anniversary of their Ordinations.

The procession included the Knights of Columbus, members of the Clergy, and Parishioners – some in colorful Polish outfits carrying banners and flags.

An honored guest was also in attendance – the Most Rev. Edward Ozorowski, Archbishop of Bialystok. Poland.

The procession ended at the Grotto where everyone gathered around the Statue of the Blessed Mother for a final prayer and two musical selections by the band.

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Sacred Heart-St. Mary

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!!