Golden Wave Band Plans Patriotic Show At BU-New Mexico Game
In the wake of the tragedies in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., Baylor University's 260-member Golden Wave Marching Band will perform some of America's best-loved patriotic tunes during halftime of the Baylor-New Mexico game Saturday, Sept. 22, at Floyd Casey Stadium.
The band will open with "This Is My Country," followed by "Grand Old Flag," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Amazing Grace," "God Bless America" and "America, the Beautiful." During the final four pieces, the crowd is asked to sing along, said Jeff Grogan, director of the marching band and acting director of bands at Baylor. The words will be on the stadium scoreboards for everyone to join in, he said.
The band had originally planned a halftime show featuring swing music in honor of Parents Weekend at Baylor. However, those plans were quickly scrapped on Sept. 11 as the tragic events unfolded in the northeast.
"There probably won't be a lot of marching because the change came at the last minute," Grogan said. "But it will be a very emotional, very patriotic and very visually pleasing show."
Plans are to have the Baylor football team on the field during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner." A Baylor Air Force ROTC contingent will provide the color guard, as well as help the Golden Wave Band with its giant American flag that stretches more than 30 yards across the football field.
Other tributes are planned to remember those who lost their lives in the attacks and to honor the men and women who serve in the armed forces and as public safety officers.