There’s nothing more Midwestern than a trip to the local Walmart, but the St. Louis marching band decided to go above and beyond and marched through the aisles of the Alma Walmart Friday, Oct. 20. The newly reopened Walmart was celebrating its redesign by holding a small event where they gave money to local nonprofit organizations and other community groups. The Sharks’ very own band received a check for $1,000 to go towards funding the band program.
The Sharks took a bus to Walmart for their 9 A.M. march, which also featured a color guard performance. The band played several songs, some of which were the fight song, “Call Me,” and “Centerfold” for the staff and shoppers at Walmart.
Senior and bass drummer Olivia Good said, “I think my favorite part was just watching everybody’s reaction to us and how they were all just happy we were there.” Good was very happy with the band’s performance and said it was going to be something she would always remember and cherish.
Another senior and color guard member McKenzie Smith said, “My favorite moment was being able to see the workers’ faces in front of me when I would toss my flag.” The color guard performed their normal routines, but with limited space. “It wasn’t very different to perform in Walmart honestly, I just really had to watch to make sure I didn’t hit anything.”
Sophomore and alto saxophone player Skylar DuBois-Kleinhans said, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I was so glad I got to do it. It was such an amazing experience.” He added, “I think my favorite part was when we were marching at the start down the aisle; it was very cool.”
The event was one to remember, and the band members will definitely walk away with the experience of a lifetime.
