The Wenatchee High School Golden Apple Marching Band earned the Grand Sweepstakes award as the top band at the 26th annual Veterans Day Marching Competition in Auburn last weekend.

The Auburn trip included a parade featuring 25 high school marching bands from throughout the Pacific Northwest in the largest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi. The marching band competition that followed featured 26 of the finest high school marching bands from Washington and Oregon in the state’s largest marching band competition.

The band, competing in its last competition of the season, demonstrated its dedication to excellence once again as band members proudly represented the Wenatchee Valley. The GA Band is directed by Jim Kovach and assistant director Tim Zanol.

This past Saturday, the band brought home the following awards:

• Grand Sweepstakes (highest overall score out of 26 bands)

• 1st Place AAA Division (tied)

• 1st Place Overall in Parade (out of 25 bands)

• Best Percussion

• Best Marching

• Best Music

On Sunday morning, the band showed its support and honored the service men and women of our country by performing in the Wenatchee Valley Veterans Day Parade. Everyone involved with the GA Band would like to give special thanks to our veterans and those who continue to serve our country.

Thank you again to Wenatchee Motor Sports, Weinstein Beverage, The Ice House and CMI. Thank you to all band booster members, chaperones, Color Guard volunteers, Minnie Obregon for her delicious meals, families and fans for giving countless hours of their time to help make an incredible program.

To follow the band and see photos and videos, check out “Wenatchee GA Band” on Facebook.

Lance Leming is president of the Wenatchee High School GA Band booster group.