Phyllis Babcock: Turn up the music on the 4th of July

I love the 4th of July. I love a parade, don’t you? I have been a loyal Modesto 4th Of July parade watcher since 1975. But ... where’s the music? A parade is not a parade without marching bands!

Modesto could invite Beyer, Davis, Downey, Enochs, Gregori, Johansen, Modesto, Central Catholic and Modesto Christian high school bands; or, the city could invite bands from Ceres, Turlock, Riverbank, Oakdale, Patterson, Waterford, Salida and Newman high schools to participate. It could have a 4th of July band extravaganza, putting Modesto and Stanislaus County on the map. Have a competition, give a grand prize! The kids would love that.

I ask the city of Modesto, Stanislaus County, Modesto City Schools, the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Modesto, the Jaycees and Kiwanis and high school band leaders to make it happen on July 4th, 2016.

Let’s organize a committee – I’ll help. I can hear the music now.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Phyllis Babcock: Turn up the music on the 4th of July."