DAY Four - Friday, December 31, 1999:

The following news update was provided by Heather Sweeting and Mike Dunsmoor, both Assistant Band Directors:

    Under partly sunny skies on a beautiful New Years Eve day in Phoenix Arizona the Oswego High School Marching Buccaneers stepped off in great style. The Buccaneers began their day in the Parade Staging area around 9:30 a.m. The anticipation in the staging area was tremendous as the band was quickly surrounded by balloons, floats, clowns, and the Met Life Snoopy blimp. After a brief warm-up session the Bucs arranged into parade formation.

    The three and a half mile parade went off without a hitch. The first mile was flooded with media and national television crews. The Bucs were met with a great ovation as they passed the grandstand (pic23, pic24) which was filled with an amazing group of supportive Buc Boosters. Drum Major Kristin Z., a senior at OHS, did a superb job keeping the parade moving along, as did Percussion section leader Brian C. "It went by a lot quicker than I thought it would" said sophomore Sarah N. Most students expressed the same opinion but were really excited to see the water bottles headed their way at the conclusion of the parade.

    Band Director William Palange said he was "tremendously pleased with the performance of the students in the parade on Friday. The kids did a great job representing not only the Oswego community, but all of New York State." Many former Oswegonians who have retired in the surrounding area came out to support the Marching Bucs as many old friends were reunited..

    After the parade the buccaneers returned to their hotel for some relaxation. Although, some students still had enough energy to do more walking at the mall in the afternoon. Tonight the Buccaneers will ring in the New Year at a celebration with the other bands competing in the National Band Competition. The Marching Bucs will have a brief rehearsal on Saturday morning for their final preparation for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona National Band Championship.