DISCLAIMER: Arielle Nguyen is a member of the Fountain Valley High School Royal Regiment.
From May 22 to May 26, the Fountain Valley High School Royal Regiment (FVRR) traveled across the country to Washington D.C. The FVRR consists of the marching band, color guard and orchestra, who performed respectively at the annual Memorial Day Parade on May 25 and the Church of Epiphany on May 24.
This is the FVRR’s second time traveling and performing at Washington D.C since the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. In December 2024, the ensemble performed in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii.
Photos below are taken by Arielle Nguyen or courtesy of the FVRR photographer, Darin Terry.
DAY 1: FRIDAY, MAY 22
The FVRR ensemble departed California around 8:20 a.m. PST, arriving in Washington D.C. around 4:20 p.m. EDT. Originally, the ensemble was supposed to view the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks after arrival, but due to the rain, this event was limited to only VIP members.
Senior drum major Thomas Hartman gets interviewed by KTLA5 news about the FVRR’s involvement in the Memorial Day Parade, entitled “Freedom 250.” Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
The FVRR ensembles arrive at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington D.C. on Friday, May 22. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
DAY 2: SATURDAY, MAY 23
Everyday started with breakfast in the hotel before the ensembles explored various museums and monuments. On Saturday, May 23, the group explored the National Archives Museum and the National Museum of African American History & Culture. They also visited the Washington Monument.
The FVRR’s first museum after arriving in D.C. is the National Archives Museum. This museum showcases the Charters of Freedom, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
A National Archives Museum security guard explains propaganda posters and war relics to members of the FVRR. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Visitors at the National Archives Museum read through the papers of the Constitution of the United States. Flash photography and other forms of bright light are prohibited due to the fragility of the papers. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Freshmen Remington Santana and James Moretti and junior Benjamin Terry inside the National Archives Museum. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Members of the FVRR pose in front of the National Archives Museum. After leaving, they went to the Ronald Reagan Food Court for lunch. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Despite the rainy conditions, sophomores Jolie Aboelsaad and Chloe Vu show up with smiles. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
From left to right, seniors Isabella Duquette, Nery Guzman, Doan Nguyen, Christopher Nguyen and Matthew Hoang examine historical African American relics such as makeup and toiletries in the National Museum of African American History.
During one of the museum trips, the FVRR’s tour guide set up a scavenger hunt to let the students discover some of their newest pieces. Freshmen Jamie Luong and Erika Terada take pictures of their favorite old-fashioned dresses. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Senior Ema Terada reads through a poster for the theater play, “The Sty of the Blind Pig.” Since the 1980s, many controversial plays about contemporary African American life illustrated themes of family, faith and romance. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Freshmans Vi Duong and Aditi Korwarkar examine old letters from slaves in the National Museum of African American History. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Senior Nicholas Johnson looks through old CDs and records. Music was served as a tool to preserve African American culture and heritage, driving civil rights and social change. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
The ensemble poses in front of the Washington Monument. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
A popular trend with monuments is to pretend to hold them or lean on them. Sophomore Michelle Mai holds the Washington Monument in her hands.
DAY 3: SUNDAY, MAY 24
On the third day of their trip, the FVRR ensemble visited the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. This museum preserves the heritage of the United States both politcally and culturally, containing relics of pop culture and political movements. They also visited the Lincoln Memorial.
The FVRR Orchestra also performed six pieces at the Church of Epiphany in an exchange performance with the Flandreau High School Choir of Flandreau, South Dakota.
Senior Dung Le Ly “Ava” admires historical newspaper and magazine pieces, such as TIME and The New Yorker. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Inside the Smithsonian Nationa Museum of American History is the pop culture section, containing many relics of theater, film and music. For example, sophomore Taylor Lam poses with Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz.” Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
After exploring the National Museum of American History, the ensemble poses for one final picture for leaving for dinner. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Between the packed days of exploring museums and historical monuments, some FVRR members chose to explore the rest of the city. From left to right, sophomore Chloe Vu, senior Dung Le Ly “Ava” and sophomore Taylor Lam walk across the street while admiring a nearby church. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
The Lincoln Memorial Building is packed with people every day. This is a neoclassically-designed temple with the inside walls inscribed with passages from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address.
Elegant pillars surround the statue of Abraham Lincoln. This statue is 19 feet tall and weighs 175 tons. It is seated upon a pedestal in the center of the temple. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Sophomore Michelle Mai snaps a photo of juniors Hailey Kinoshita and Ariel Rodriguez in front of the Lincoln monument.
FVRR director Jackson Lai instructs concertmaster Doan Nguyen on the first piece of their performance, “Invierno,” originally composed by Vivaldi. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Senior violinist Sebastian Stoi reads through his sheet music for the piece “New Chances, New Dances” by Richard Meyer. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
From left to right, senior violist Lindzi Cao, junior bassist Sydknee Yeh and sophomore celloist Brooke Huynh perform “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
After performing six pieces, the FVRR Orchestra Ensemble smiles — weeks and hours of practicing for this very moment paying off. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
DAY 4: MONDAY, MAY 25. Memorial Day
The day started with the Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade. The FVRR instrumental music ensemble dressed in their marching uniforms and played music in performance with the color guard leading them with their rifles.
After their performance at around 10:30 a.m., the FVRR ensembles visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorial, the Martin Luther King memorial and had the choice of visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History or the National Museum of Space and Air.
The FVRR Front Ensemble marches with the banner, showcasing their Baron pride. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
It is after about an hour when it was the FVRR’s time to get on national television and march. Junior Jayden Luu waits for his cue, drumsticks in hand. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Members of the FVRR Color Guard shows off their rifles before performing in the annual Memorial Day Parade. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Sophomore drum major Sunny Ezell and senior drum major Thomas Hartman get ready with American flags for the parade. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Senior Christopher Nguyen plays the marching tune on his mellophone. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
The FVRR Battery marches with their drums across the wet asphalt, keeping time with the band and the music. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
At the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, sophomore Samantha Ngo and her dad admire the “Depression Bread Line,” a bronze sculpture of people in tattered coats and hats waiting for free food during the Great Depression. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
Senior drum major Thomas Hartman and his parents pose in front of the granite statue of civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
DAY 5: TUESDAY, MAY 26.
On their last day, the FVRR ensemble visited the Arlington National Cemetary where they witnessed the Changing of the Guard ceremony by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Samantha Ngo and her dad pose with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sentinel completes his daily march. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
The sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier prepare for their Changing of the Guard. This ceremony is an elaborate, technical practice done every 30 minutes. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
Spectators witness the Relief Commander arriving to initiate the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photo by Arielle Nguyen.
The last stop in Washington DC before the FVRR boarded the plane home was the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial. Photo courtesy of Darin Terry.
