On April 10, Sequoyah’s musical programs traveled to and performed at the country’s capital, Washington, D.C. during its annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The event is prestigious, and high schools around the country were invited well in advance. Although the marching band and color guard performed in the parade, the choir sang at a different time and venue, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, with another impromptu performance at the Lincoln Memorial. 

In addition to performing, the groups also went on several sightseeing tours and museums. The chorus went to go see the “Into The Woods” play at the Ford’s Theatre. This is the same theatre in which John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln in 1865. They also saw a one-act play of a reenactment of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The chorus also toured the theatre beforehand. 

The chorus and marching band visited several landmarks and monuments like the Arlington National Cemetery, The Smithsonian Museums, and the Jefferson, Lincoln and Einstein Memorials.  

A few places stuck out in particular to senior Robert Lammens.  

“My favorite [military memorials] were the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington [National] Cemetery and the Air Force Memorial,” Lamens said. “Although, I think I only like that one because my parents were in the Air Force.”  

Even though he enjoyed it, Lammens was worn out. 

“A lot of it was walking from place to place. Most of it was either museums or memorials. Don’t get me wrong, those are interesting, but most of it was spent on our feet,” Lammens said. 

The marching band was part of many other high school marching bands that were selected to march down Constitution Avenue, the road that runs past the National Mall.  

“The actual performance was cool, but we were all dead tired by the end,” Lammens said.