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LAUREL — The LCC “Bear” Marching Band will be marching in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 24.
The LCC band members and chaperones will depart Friday, May 23, and return to Laurel Monday.
This trip presents a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their talent and experience the vibrant music culture of Chicago,” said band instructor Patty Beyler.
Fifty students and adults will be traveling by bus to Chicago.
The group will visit landmarks like the John Hancock Building, home of the “Tilt” Chicago’s highest thrill ride, and “The Bean” at Millennium Park and tour The Shedd Aquarium, the third largest aquarium in the western hemisphere.
The LCC charter bus will stop at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the students can eat Chicago style pizza at Giordano’s and feast on a turkey leg at Medieval Times, while watching the knights of the kingdom battle to protect the throne.
Finally, they will wrap up the trip by enjoying an evening dinner cruise on the “Spirit of Chicago” departing from Navy Pier on Lake Michigan.
This year, the LCC “Bear” Marching Band earned runner-up at the Wayne Band Days Parade and won first place at the Dakota Days Parade.
“We are proud of these accomplishments and excited to continue representing our school in the Memorial Day Parade in Chicago,” Beyler said.
Over the years, the marching band has participated in many memorable trips, including marching in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. in 2006 and marching in the preshow and halftime of the Ticket City Bowl in Dallas in 2012.
“These opportunities enriched former students musical education and fellowship with one another. We hope this Chicago trip does the same for our current band members,”Beyler said.
Memorial Day is always a special day for the LCC Band Director, Patti Beyeler, who has just finished teaching her 23rd year in the LCC School system. Her dad, Clarence Siegworth, while in the Army in World War II was Missing In Action in France, was wounded and was a purple heart recipient.
To make this trip happen for the students, one year ago, on the last day of school a group was formed, the LCC Band Booster Organization.
The LCC Band Boosters have participated in fundraising over $40,000 through selling pop, poinsettias, pies, and donuts. The school has also hosted two honor bands. The LCC fifth and sixth grade Honor Band at the LCC Middle School with 90 students from six area schools and District III Music Contest for 520 students from 12 schools at the LCC School.
“A huge shout out goes to the communities of: Laurel, Coleridge, Concord and Dixon for your very generous support of the 2025 Chicago Band Trip,” Beyler said. “Thanks to this support this trip has become a reality which will be an unforgettable experience. Marching in the 2025 Chicago Memorial Day Parade is our way of honoring the Veterans, past and present, of the Laurel, Concord, Coleridge and Dixon communities.”
