Marching Warriors take London by storm

FHS London travelers

Max Alperstein

Kevin Alcaraz

Ashton Audet

Andrae Cerrato

Andrew Dominguez

Taylor Frazier

Shannon Gaines-Emory

Mason Genduso

Andrea Hoffman

Isaac Hostetler

Ixlaly Jasa

Elizabeth Jones

Jenna Jurras

Santana Lopez

Julianna Magos

Julian Maynard-Brown

George Monasterio

Courtney Moore

Russell Ortega

Jonathan Reyes

Javier Rojo Flores

Patrick Roybal

Samantha Saple

Stephanie Osowski (FHS Ass't. Principal)

Victor Torres (Band Director)

Matthew Williams (Drumline Coach)

Linda Flood

Makayla Bradford

David Philippi

Amanda Vetch

Lucia Montiano

Olivia Montiano

Jill Alperstein

Mary Bradford

Maria Elena Dominguez

Richard Hirasuna

Amy Hoffman

Emmanuel Magos

Michelle Maynard

Tamara Monasterio

Marissa Monasterio

Sally Montiano

Eric Ortega

Isabel Ortega

Delia Ramirez-Lopez

Andy Reed

Debra Woodbury

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook High School Marching Warriors returned from their London trip with fresh views of the world and new experiences. A little over a year ago, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, with her red-velvet cape and plumed hat, strode out onto the Fallbrook High football field during halftime and eloquently invited the Marching Warriors to participate in the 30^th anniversary of the London’s New Year's Day Parade 2016.

The students fundraised for a year to make this trip a reality and the Fallbrook community rallied behind them. Through letter writing, a motorcycle drawing, fashion show, concert, rummage sales, and car washes, 23 current high school students and two recent graduates funded their trip. Additionally, eight past graduates participated in the parade, one of whom is the mother of a current student!

From Dec. 28 to Jan. 3, the students had many firsts. For some, it was their first air travel or first time away from home. For all, it was the ride on a double-decker bus and having to rely on maps and clocks, as they had limited phone use. (Imagine that!) They walked endless kilometers every day, figured out the bus system and became experts at navigating the tube and remembering to "mind the gap."

While visiting Hampton Court, they negotiated the ancient hedge maze and learned about the life of Henry VIII. At Windsor Castle, the students witnessed opulent rooms with extravagantly decorated Christmas trees, rooms of armor, and the famed Queen Mary’s Doll House.

One early morning tour began on a boat, riding up the River Thames to the National Observatory where they stood on the historic Median Line in Greenwich. Their charming guide was a lively source of savory London political commentary and British humor as she led them through the week of tours, teaching them the nicknames for the tall modern buildings, like the Gherkin, the Walkie-talkie, the Cheese Grater, and the Shard.

In Covent Gardens, they bought souvenirs with their pounds (British money), watched street musicians and magicians, saw Mounted Police and even went to Starbucks. One evening, the students visited St. John’s Church (c.1728) for an amazing choral and music concert of other U.S. schools participating in the parade. In addition to the tours, students soaked up as much London as possible on the last day from the National Gallery and the London Eye to roller-skating.

The parade was the highlight of the trip on New Year’s Day. Led by band director Victor Torres, the representatives from Fallbrook played beautifully to the cheering crowds through the 2.2 miles of narrow roads ending in Parliament Square. In-between songs, they ran to the crowd with huge California smiles and enthusiasm, high-fiving the spectators, posing for selfies, and shouting "Happy New Year" while the drumline continued their cadence, delighting the tens of thousands lining the historic parade route.

It was the trip of a lifetime that will be remembered fondly by our local students, and for which they have the community of Fallbrook to thank for supporting their experience!

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