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2025 looks to be a big year for King’s Fork High School Mighty Marching Bulldogs as the band students will march in Washington D.C. during the Independence Day parade.

As the band prepares for next year’s monumental moment, King’s Fork High School Band Director Bernard Bradley alongside students Maya Walker and Brandon Cook had a chance to talk about their excitement for the event. Bradley said it is an “absolute honor and privilege” to be nominated for the prestigious honor. 

“Many years, there’s been a lot of great band programs who represented in this parade and it’s just great to become another member of this elite class who has the opportunity to perform in this parade,” Bradley said. “Of course, breaking the news to the students was the most exciting part because again, it’s another opportunity to showcase what we do best, and that is make music and be entertaining at our nation’s capital.” Bradley noted that D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, and North and South Carolina were previous stops that the Mighty Marching Bulldogs have been to. “But the big thing with this one is just the fact [that] we’re representing, we get to be in front of the White House, we get the opportunity to showcase, not only our school spirit, but our pride for our country on July the 4th, again America’s birthday,” Bradley said. “and just having that opportunity to present what we do best, again, music and entertainment for between 100 to 200,000 people as well as possible televising of the event.” 

Walker expressed her excitement for their future trip to D.C. 

“I am ready to go out there to showcase what we can do,” said Walker. Cook was also enthusiastic about heading back to D.C. again for the event. 

“When I first heard of the news, I was very surprised,” Cook said. “But now I am just ready to go up there and march my heart away.” Cook also spoke on the potential of being featured on television for the event, “I think it’s a great chance to possibly get opportunities to be invited to more places in the future, be more well known across the country and maybe even the continent.” 

Bradley also shared with KFHS students that the band is currently fundraising to raise money for their visit to D.C. and other future trips. He encourages students to help raise money for the trip by using the Snap! Raise fundraiser platform until Oct. 1. Bradley also gave a message to his band students. 

“Continue to work hard because you never know where your skills can take you,” he said. “Of course, many of you all have seen the college scholarships, you’ve seen the trips, you’ve seen the traveling. Just understand that your work is being seen and your work is being acknowledged. Never forget that even on the hard days, you are building to something greater, and you are part of a grade A organization. So continue to keep up the exemplary work.”