The annual Jazz Band/Marching Band Concert Thursday night at Rochelle Township High School will be made special by the music, the musicians and the guests of honor.

Band director Ron Duval said this is the last band concert before the marching band represents the State of Illinois in the Veterans Day Parade of Heroes in downtown Washington, D.C. This is the trip made possible through the incredible generosity of the community and commitment on the part of Duval, his students and the RTHS Band Boosters.

Unique and diverse fundraisers were organized to raise the $92K necessary to travel to D.C. with the 100-member marching band:

• The Kitchen Table/Thiravong Family Asian dinner

• The Marching Band Alumni Reunion

• Sawicki new car raffle

• Andy & Aaron’s Early Morning Jam Session on WIFR-TV

• News-Leader Strike up the Band Subscription promo

Donations from service groups include, American Legion, Band Boosters, McDonald’s DAR, Kiwanis, Rochelle Area Community Foundation, Stillman Bank, numerous private and anonymous donations via the band’s Go Fund Me page.

And then there is Hub Printing’s beautiful Veterans Memorial Wall which hangs outside of the entrance to the music hall in the RTHS Commons. The wall represents the $10,000 donated by families of veterans whose names and branches of service appear there.

“We have sent personal invitations to the veterans as well as the families that participated,” Duval said. “We hope they will attend Thursday’s concert. Our band will perform all of the patriotic songs from our 2018 competition show as well as the ever- popular service medley.

“It it our hope that as we play the song for each branch of the service — Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marine — veterans will stand and salute,” Duval said.

It is likely that after the service medley, Duval will share some new information with the veterans regarding the band’s trip to D.C.

“We (band) will arrive back in Rochelle in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 13,” he said. “The kids will be given time to have breakfast and get dressed for the RTHS Veterans Day Breakfast performance just after 7:30 a.m. when the breakfast begins.”

Historically, Duval has a few horn players perform the medley.

“This will be a very special Veterans Day for us. After performing at the Lincoln Memorial, WWII, Memorial, and a special feature concert at the base of Iwo Jima  in Arlington National Cemetery, I am confident that every member of our band will want to perform the service medley for our local heroes,” Duval said.

Thursday’s band concert begins at 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Veterans will not be charged admission.