On the last days of classes, Everett High School's drum majors have been practicing.
This time they aren't practicing for Viking fans in the football or basketball stands but a much larger audience.
Alexa Muethel and Charles Timms and the rest of Everett's band will be traveling to Washington D.C. to be a part of the nation's largest Memorial Day parade.
"I am really excited because I've never been to DC and I think this will be a great opportunity for the bands to go" said senior, Alexa Muethel.
The students at Everett along with, Battle Creek's Pennfield, Holly High School, and Southfield's High School will represent the state in D.C. for the American Veterans Center's Memorial Day Parade.
"We feel honored to honor our veterans and honor those who have served our country and we feel blessed to be able to go and pay our respects to those folks who have give us the chance to be free" said band director, Penny Filonczuk.
This isn't the school's first time heading to the parade. In 2010, the then band also went to perform in the parade.
Everett has been known for the band's performances, that's why they've performed in Chicago, the Outback Bowl in Florida and Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Georgia.
"But this one is bigger, more exciting, we're going to Arlington" said Filonczuk. "We're gonna lay a wreath at the tomb of unknown soldiers. We will be going to the national memorial day concert, the capitol lawn."
The road to the Capitol lawn hasn't been cheap. Each member of the band had to pay $477 for the trip. With a group of 43 the price tag was over $20,000. Through fundraising and support from the community, they were able to get every penny.
"I remember this one lady at our car wash, she just came and gave us $50 and just said I just wanted to help out the band" said junior Charles Timms II.
He says support like that is why they're digging deeper for the performance. Not for them but the Lansing community, "that's what we are, we're Everett Viking Marching Band. We're proud and we're powerful" Timms said.
