T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Retired band director Kevin Reed will march alongside other retired directors in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

NEW YORK — Retired local band director Kevin Reed of St. Clairsville will be wearing his red jacket with pride during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He and other members of the Saluting America’s Marching Band Directors will be playing during the New York parade itself and at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Reed has directed bands for 35 years, retiring in 2014, and much of his career was spent in Belmont County.

“I started in Cadiz High School, which is Harrison County, and then St. Clairsville (Richland City) schools, Buckeye Local, Union Local, Shadyside and Bellaire,” he said. “Bellaire is where I retired.”

Reed also participated in a march of band directors during the Rose Bowl two years ago.

“The Band Directors Marching Band is doing Macy’s. It’s the first time for the Band Directors Marching Band and myself,” he noted.

He noted that many of his students have participated in the parade, including his daughter, Leandra (Reed) Pritchard in 2012.

“Two years ago when I marched the Pasadena parade, I was selected. You have to have experience teaching marching band in order to get selected,” he said. “When Macy’s came up, those who were already in the Pasadena parade had first priority, so I applied the very first day. The very first day there were 100 applicants.”

Reed said there were 650 applicants but only 407 band directors were selected. They represent all 50 states, Mexico and Canada. He added that 62 of them will be from Ohio.

“It’s the largest contingency of band directors,” he said. “This is more than just a big parade.”

He said the last rehearsal on the day of the event will begin at 2 a.m. Thursday.

“We are going to be very early in the parade, almost the very beginning – very easy to spot with our red jackets,” he said. “Squeezing 400 people into the camera in front of Macy’s is going to be a challenge.”

He said they are also anticipating playing at Ground Zero.

“Which is unheard of. No one really performs at (Ground Zero). We’re doing a wreath ceremony there, and my wife is also one of the flag bearers for the 9/11 ceremony,” he added.

Meanwhile, he and his wife, Debbie, are preparing.

“We walk anywhere from nine to 12 miles a week, and all of the music is memorized. We will be sent videos on marching style,” he said. “Our first rehearsal will be Sunday, Nov. 19. That will be an inside rehearsal, and the following days it will be in a large armory in New Jersey and we’ll prepare outside also. So there’s three days of rehearsal.”

Kevin Reed will join in playing a march medley on the parade route, a Big Apple medley for television in front of the Macy’s building, and “Simple Gifts.” At Ground Zero the group will play “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Taps.” His instrument is the trumpet.

He said he also looks forward to seeing other band directors in the field.

“You meet people from all over the country,” he said.

He said “service through music” is the motto of the organization. This past Sept. 11 he joined others in producing an online tribute.

“We couldn’t do a project with our bands because we’re retired, so we did a virtual band. Over 100 directors from across the country participated in a virtual band. It was edited together and presented on 9/11 in honor of all first responders. All the other service projects done by high schools, middle schools, colleges, these have all been documented. It’s the whole idea of service to your community through music. That’s really the basis of the whole foundation.”