Marching bands from nine high schools prepare for the Indianapolis 500 parade

PLYMOUTH, Ind. -- Students in marching bands and color guard from nine high schools in Marshall County and Starke County will march as a single unit in the Indianapolis 500 Parade on Saturday, May 28. 

Marking the second event they have done together, the combined unit consists of drumline, color guard performers, woodwind, percussion and brass players from Plymouth, Bremen, LaVille, Triton, Argos, Culver, Oregon-Davis, Knox and North Judson-San Pierre schools. 

Altogether, this is more than 350 students. 

"This is a chance where we can just come together and work together as a single unit...to be outside doing a live activity again getting to perform together as a group is a really big deal to these kids because they missed a lot of cool opportunities in the last couple years," said Band Director Bryan Ames. 

Ames also noted that the students will be wearing their hometown uniforms representing their individual programs. The flags for the color guard were previously purchased with a grant from the Marshall County Community Foundation.

Only five out of the nine schools have a competitive marching program, making this parade experience the first for many students.  

"A lot of us including my school don't have marching band programs, so it's really cool to get to do this. Join band and if you're in band, go practice. You should be practicing," said Berrek Ohime, trumpet player.