This December 7 will mark the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. To commemorate this, numerous events, ceremonies and presentations will be happening at this historic site.  A local group of young ladies will be there representing Deep East Texas.

The Huntington Highsteppers from Huntington High School will be flying out on December 5 and heading to Hawaii for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  The dance team will be performing several routines at the 80th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Concert Series.  Those in attendance at the 26th annual Huntington Veterans Day Event were treated to one of those performances with the Highstepper Officers performed a tap routine to 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy'. The HIghsteppers will be performing a total of nine dances at the Pearl Harbor event.

This trip will be a great learning experience for the ladies as well.  They will pay a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial as well as go on deck for a guided tour of the USS Battleship Missouri. The Highsteppers will take part in a flag folding ceremony on the Missouri as well as a wreath laying ceremony at the Arizona Memorial.  Other visits include a trip to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Washington Place – the Governor’s Mansion, the State Capitol Building, Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha Statue. The young ladies will also visit the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum which includes exhibits, artifacts, and aircraft relating directly to the attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII.

Of course, there will be time to enjoy the beauty the island has to offer. The Highsteppers will be treated to excursions to Oahu’s most famous landmark, Diamond Head. There will be a trip to the 'Blowhole' - where water can spout hundreds of feet in the air - and then to the Pali Lookout.  An authentic Hawaiian Luau is also part of the adventure. The dance team will return to Texas on December 10.

It's going to be quite the busy time for the Highsteppers in December.  They will be hosting their annual shopping event on December 4 (Candy Cane Lane) and then heading to Hawaii early the next morning.

I can't wait to see the pictures from their trip to Pearl Harbor, and I'm looking forward to hear their perspectives on what future Veterans Days will mean to them after this experience.

The Huntington Highsteppers are under the direction of Miranda Clifton.  Members include:

  1. Lanie Barrett
  2. Aubree Capps
  3. Baylie Clark
  4. Captain Malerie Clifton
  5. Allie Dilday
  6. Co Captain Chancy Dodd
  7. Aubree Easley
  8. Hailey Garner
  9. Claire Harris
  10. Hayleigh Holder
  11. Sydney Holder
  12. Katy Howard
  13. Brooke Johnson
  14. Lieutenant Cindy Molina
  15. Avery Neal
  16. Samantha Nichols
  17. Savanna Parr
  18. Alyssa Robbins
  19. Lieutenant Kiersten Whitaker
  20. Maggie Whittemore

Huntington Highsteppers Pearl Harbor

Here's a look back at the Huntington High School Veterans Day Program

Huntington Veterans 2021

 

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