Early Friday morning, members of Warren Central High School’s Big Blue band set off on a long-awaited journey to Hawaii to represent Mississippi in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade.

The band will march in the parade beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday to commemorate the 73^rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

At noon Monday, Big Blue will perform a concert of patriotic songs aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

The group has been fundraising for nearly two years to make the 4,137-mile trek to the Aloha State, said band director Alan Arendale.

“The band was invited in June of 2013, and it was decided that we would go in July 2013,” he said.

Since finding out Big Blue would be marching in the annual Pearl Harbor Day event, band members have held a number of fundraisers including a carwash, busing tables at Newk’s, and selling mattresses, pizza and cookie dough, said Kaylor Bell, a WCHS senior who plays trombone and is a member of the color guard.

The cost for each member to participate was $1,955, and the fundraisers were a way students could shave off some of the expense.

Collin Brumfield, a senior trumpet player, said he contributed to his cost by holding down a job.

“I worked all summer and paid over half of my expenses, and my family helped out with the rest,” he said.

Arendale said the community has also supported the band’s fundraising efforts.

“Ergon, Fordice Construction and the Port City Kiwanis all served as Platinum sponsors,” he said.

“I also want to thank the Booster’s club officers, Daniel Farrar and Lee Autrey, they spent hours helping us, and their kids aren’t even making the trip,’ said Arendale.

Even though the band’s membership is 174, only 70 members are making the trip.

“It’s been a hard call to not take everyone,” said Arendale. “I wish I could take them all.”

Every member had the opportunity to go, but bands can’t require their members to go on long-distance trips or participate in fundraisers.

Even though all the band members won’t have the opportunity to stroll along a Hawaiian

Beach or visit a number of tourist sites, they still lent a hand for those who did go.

“It’s just the spirit of Big Blue to help each other,” Kaylor said.

Senior drummer Connor Carlisle said he is “super excited” but apprehensive about flying on an airplane for the first time and being so far from home. The opportunity to participate in the parade is an honor that makes the trip worth it, Connor said.

“It’s overwhelming and I feel so proud to go down there and play,” he said.

Arendale said he has encouraged students to research the history of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The attack killed more than 2,500 Americans and damaged or destroyed 18 ships and 300 planes.

“He made sure we knew this would be a solemn event,” Collin said.

The band is scheduled to depart Hawaii on Tuesday and be back in Vicksburg on Wednesday.

“Some people have said the trip is just at an inopportune time, but it was an inopportune time for them too,” said Collin, referring those surprised by the attack by the Empire of Japan. “We’re loosing a little time when they lost their lives,” he said.