Harding Prep Choir Members Participate In Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony

Oklahoma high school students were singing Tuesday evening at a Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii.

Attacks on Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,400 Americans and wounded more than 1,100 others. 

Harding Charter Preparatory High School choir students were selected to participate in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony and Parade. 

They first performed at the USS Missouri on Sunday as a group. 

On Tuesday, they walked in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade and represented the USS Oklahoma. 

“Being able to honor the fallen soldiers, being able to perform today in the afternoon, sing the national anthem with everyone, its such an honor I have to say, just being able to represent all of Oklahoma,” said Daniela Torres, a senior choir member who sings alto. 

They’re also singing in the opening ceremony with schools from all over the country. 

“We’re going to do America the Beautiful, and we’re also going to do the national anthem along the parade route,” said Jennifer Gillis, vocal music director at Harding Charter High School. 

Students fundraised for a year and a half to make the trip. 

“With the performances, I’m mainly looking forward to, for one, learning about this event in history. I quite enjoy singing with our choir, I feel like everyone is very talented, and I can’t wait to meet the other choirs,” said Audrey Bacharach, a sophomore choir member who sings alto. 

Students said they are learning a lot while touring historical Pearl Harbor sites. 

“Its just been so nice to come out here and learn so much about history that I didn’t know before,” said Thomas Etherington, a junior tenor and bass choir member. 

They toured he USS Arizona this week. 

“I saw how devastating it was for those people who died that day to be on those ships and stuff. I really felt like us singing here as such a higher meaning than when we first signed up for this trip,” said Andrew Onema, a sophomore tenor choir member. 

Students told News 9 they are finding deeper meaning in their role at the Pearl Harbor memorial ceremony. 

“I feel like as an American that you have that shared connection. Like, this were out people who died that day, it really holds like togetherness with everyone,” said Onema.