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John McDaid
Science fiction writer and citizen journalist

PHS Band to Play at Inauguration Parade

Posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:25 pm

Portsmouth's high school band has been chosen to participate in President Obama's Inaugural parade on January 21, according to an e-mail from band director Ted Rausch. Said Rausch:

Happy New Year to All!!

It gives me an unbelievable amount of pleasure and excitement to officially announce that we are representing the state of Rhode Island in the nation's 57 Inaugural Parade. Last time PHS marched in this parade was for Ronald Reagan in 1981!! Even today, I still hear from parents and alumni who remember that parade as being one of their highlights of their high school years! Now it's your turn!

I do want to share with you a portion of the email I received on Friday, after thinking I was going to have a relaxing week of school when we come back!

Dear Mr. Rausch:

On behalf of President Obama, Vice President Biden, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), were pleased to inform you that your organization has been chosen to participate in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade.

Jim Wilkinson and the Music Boosters have been working hard over these last few days trying to organize this trip in order to give all of you the necessary information. A trip like this normally takes several months planning - we are going to do it in less than three weeks! So please bear with us as new information comes my way every day.

Congratulations to our amazing, talented band students, and thanks to the teachers, staff, and parents who make this all possible!

TAMORI

2:26 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

What an honor! But there are lots of kids in that band. Gotta be some kids with Obama-loathing parents. How many won’t let their kids go just because of that?

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Former Ports resident

4:09 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

As a republican parent with a child still in the Portsmouth school system (and band) I will not allow my child to participate. Based on how he is being raised a republican he had already stated that he doesn't want to go either

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a resident with a watchful eye

7:02 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Dear Former Ports Res: You have got to be kidding! That is ridiculous. It is attitudes like yours that have stagnated progress in Congress for 4 years now. It's an opportunity for your child to play in a band for the inauguration of the President of the United States....You say he doesn't want to go.......I bet he does.....he just doesn't want his dad to be upset with him....What a ridiculous spot you have placed your child in.

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Robert E

9:02 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Former Ports resident you may not like Obama but he is still The President of the United States by not letting your child attend you are doing a disservice to your country. This is not an endorcment of his policies but a chance to carry on with a time honored tradition. The parade is not to honor the man but the Office of President and for any member not to attend because of politics shows they are not worthy of membership in this outstanding band.

TheOneCalledZed

3:17 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Big ups to the Band Of Patriots on being recognized with an invitation to the Big Show!

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Jennifer

6:03 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Hmmmm... Isn't it an honor to be invited and show their talent to everyone as a whole? By not letting your child attend you are letting down the entire band. Your child is also being selfish to his fellow band members...

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Portsmouth res

9:43 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Congratulations to the band!!!!! What an amazing honor. As an alumni of PHS and the band I am one jealous and two proud to say I was a part of such a fantastic group. Hoping my sister will remember this forever!

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Anonomous

9:57 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

@Former Ports Res- As a member of the PHS band, I would more than likely tell you that your son or daughter would probably rather attend. Channel 12 came in during band class today and filmed us playing Corrado and American Pride. Because Obama is the one being inaugurated is a poor excuse to not allow him/her to attend this. We are the one group picked over everyone in the state to play for the president of the U S of A, and you can't get over your disagreement with the president? Excuse me sir, but that attitude is the reason this country is going down the toilet

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Eneida De Jesus

10:05 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

How ignorant of "former Portsmouth resident". It's people like you that cannot see PAST their noses and put politics aside. PHS BAND has been invited to march in the presidential inauguration parade, an honor and a day that will be in these students minds forever. A day that they will be able to tell their children and grandchildren about it. Put your political views aside and encourage and allow your child to participate.

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Former Ports resident

11:02 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Let me ask you something, if the band was chosen to march at a KKK meeting, would you want your child attending? Couldn't you put your beliefs behind and let the child attend because it was an honor to be selected?

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a resident with a watchful eye

11:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

you know former ports res.......You, are an idiot!

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TheOneCalledZed

11:25 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Hey, Former Ports Res - you might want to teach your "republican raised" child that there is a difference between a KKK meeting and the inauguration of the President of the USA... a difference that you seem blind to.

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Former Ports resident

11:35 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I love when people don't agree with another's beliefs they have to resort to name calling to make themselves feel better, or maybe it helps them feel like their beliefs are for everyone. My son does not believe in our president and therefor does not want to attend his party. Simple. No name calling. It is just his belief. It is not wrong it is just not yours.

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TheOneCalledZed

11:48 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Wait... what? Former-etc, do you mean "does not believe in our president" like, say, "does not believe in the tooth fairy", or "does not believe in global warming", or "does not believe in wearing seat belts"? I don't understand.

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Robert E

12:30 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013

Does your son beleave in the USA because this is not about Obama or the KKK it is about the United States and a commentment to your fellow band members. If you can't see that maybe you should start calling yourself Former US Citizen. Time to grow up and start acting like an adult and not a spoiled child.

Michael J. Kelly

10:23 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

We have a great band thanks to the hard work of the students, staff and boosters. It is nice to see them recognized for that hard work. It will be nice to see those big red P's marching down Penn. Ave.

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Jody Rabbitt

5:00 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013

Former Post Resident
I agree. We should stop the name calling. If your child and you do not want to participate, that is your choice. The other members of the band will still enjoy the honor and experience without your child. Congrats Portsmouth High School Band. It is an honor to be invited. You should be so proud.

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TAMORI

8:32 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013

Former Portsmouth resident – You do realize that Republican members of congress and the senate will be in attendance. Not because they support the man, but because they support the office...like others have mentioned above. Comparing the inauguration parade to a Ku Klux Klan parade is just anomalous. Are you indicating that you and your son are KKK supporters?

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Former Ports resident

9:31 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013

No Tamori I am just stating that if you do not support an event, whether Obama being re-elected or a KKK meeting, then it is better to stick to your beliefs and not attend then to go which some may view as a show of support. I am not for the KKK or Obama, therefor I would not attend a rally for either. It is my right like it is my son's. He is not making a stink about the band playing, and he is honored that the band was chosen based on talent, but he has elected not to go as is his right. You may not agree but it doesn't mean he should be attacked. He is not forcing his beliefs on anyone.

Rhody

12:44 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

I honestly can't understand why you commenters are baited by internet trolls like FPR. He/She only made that initial comment to get you all riled up. Sadly, most of you have fallen for it. In an unrelated note (yet entirely related to the article, which is rare in Patch comment land), congratulations to the PHS band! They've been awesome for years now and it's cool that they're being recognized with this great honor.

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Jane Wolk Wheeler

6:56 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

East Greenwich HS band played at Obama's first inauguration. I'm sure there were plenty of "Carcieri country" republicans who marched in that one! Sure I'm especially happy that my child gets to play at Obama's inauguration, but if Romney had been elected, I'd still be just as proud that our band was invited and very happy to support my child going. It's an honor no matter who is in office.
Keep those donations coming!!!

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a resident with a watchful eye

9:51 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Dan, please go away. You were/and still are an embarrassment to the Town of Portsmouth.

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b kcaj

10:04 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

The fact that Dan Gordon would even publicly post his name after making a fool of himself at the state house is just incredible. He beats up women, fights with the police, claims he was wounded in Iraq when he wasn't even there, ends up in prison, and has the audacity to make comments on a public website?

Go crawl back in your hole Dan-you've made enough of a fool of yourself already.

Jennifer

10:26 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Please remember you can post under any screen name. I would like to think this guy has already made enough of a horses a** of himself and would be smart enough to not spew this garbage... As we all the the people who like to stir the pot on this site tend to post under numerous names.

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b kcaj

11:15 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Dan-Don't you think you have already embarassed yourself enough?

After your arrest, incarceration, and childish performance in the general assembly, you would think you would do your best to stay under the radar and slip into oblivion. Instead, you continue to hit the bottle, make stupid posts, and prove to the world how alcoholism affects the brain.

Get yourself some help Dan-the sooner the better.

b kcaj

11:10 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Unfortunately Jennifer, Dan Gordon is not that smart. He's a chronic alcoholic who made a fool of himself in the general assembly, and continues to spew his anti-everything nonsense on every public forum he can access. Don't be surprised when he commits another crime and once again lands behind bars. Only then will the public not have to listen to his nonsense and lies.

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Rep. Dan Gordon

11:34 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

And why would local media, this site included, not report that Senator Moura and myself assisted in over 100 arrests of pedophiles? Hmm.

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/pedophiles-twitter_b23650

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