| At 4:30 a.m. on November 26,
2002, the Kansas City International Airport greeted the
arrival of 300 travelers bound for the island of Hawaii. We
are happy to say that we left the Golden Regiment rain cloud
behind!
The Golden Regiment was featured in the 61st Annual
Waikiki Holiday Parade. The parade was a night event weaving
along the famous Waikiki coast. The parade was lined with
burning torches, holiday decorations and thousands of
spectators. The band played non-stop for a continuous,
supportive audience including an admiral from the naval
base.
The most memorable portion of the trip for the band was
the performance at Pearl Harbor. The Golden Regiment had the
distinct honor of performing a stand-still concert for the
flag raising ceremony at the Arizona Memorial and our home
state battleship, the Battleship Missouri. The band was
presented two American flags by a Pearl Harbor Survivor, one
that had flown over the Arizona Memorial and one that had
flown over the Battleship Missouri.
Although the Golden Regiment certainly enjoyed the sun,
the beaches and the culture of Hawaii, the memories of Pearl
Harbor will live in hearts and minds forever.
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