
Million Dollar Marching Band represents Ironton at Gator Bowl in Florida
Dec 29, 2007 @ 12:13 AM
By DAVID E. MALLOY
The Herald-Dispatch
IRONTON -- Alexa Boggs didn't get a lot of sleep last night.
Boggs, an Ironton High School freshman, was among 60 members of the Million Dollar Marching Band, which took off about 9 p.m. Tuesday on the way to Orlando, Fla. Ironton's band will participate in the half-time show at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on New Year's Day.
Members of the band ate at Medieval Times on Friday night and will spend Saturday at Universal Studios in Orlando before heading up to Jacksonville. "I've been to Disneyworld, but I've never been to Universal Studios," said Boggs, who plays the clarinet. "My favorite part of the trip will be being on the field with all the other bands."
Ironton is among a number of bands invited to participate in the Gator Bowl. About 2,000 band members are expected to participate in the half-time show, said Laura Boggs, Alexa's mother.
"This is her first trip," she said. "I think it's pretty neat. They've been planning this for more than a year."
Boggs and other members of the band sold coupon books and fruit to help pay for the trip.
"The band goes on a trip like this every other year," Ironton Superintendent Dean Nance said Friday. "It's one of the things we try to do for them. I think it's a great experience for them. We're real proud of the band.
"Our band director, Jeff Saunders, has done a good job," he said.
The band went to Memphis two years ago, said Joe Rowe, Ironton High School principal.
"They're a hard-working bunch and will represent our school well," he said.