The marching Utes do Utah proud

University of Utah's Marching Utes delivered a strong ending to the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a Barack Obama's presidency. Their resounding version of "God Bless America" was a fitting close to the inauguration procession, which wound its way to the White House in just over three hours.

Despite below-freezing temperatures and long waits in buses, warming tents and lines, the marching band delivered on its 1.7-mile-long march, made possible by thousands of donors across the country.

"There are icicles hanging on the spit valves, everyone is freezing, but when you come around the corner and see the president of the United States, you got this electric feeling that you are part of history," said Ariane Stevens, a teaching assistant who traveled with the band. "It was awesome, like nothing else I've ever experienced."

The Utes repeated their song roughly 30 times throughout the parade, continuing to play even as crowds grew sparse at the end of the day. Before long, sousaphone player Sharlene Bridge said they were playing mostly for law enforcement and security personnel stationed along the route.

Although the day included "a lot of hurry up and wait," Bridge said "it was all worth it. How many people can say they've done this."

The Marching Utes were the only group that accepted an invitation to represent the state of Utah in the traditional parade, and due to recent state revenue shortfalls, had to rely on $154,000 in donations to get to Washington, D.C.

"I can't believe the support we had, I've never seen so many people step up and donate and we worked really hard and I'd say we performed well for all of them," Bridge said as she made her way back to the buses that would take the band back to the airport for a late-night flight home.

The group arrived in Virginia early Sunday morning and was able to spend the day exploring the District, Stevens said.

Several community members in Ashburn, Va., put up room and board for the 128-member band, allowing the Utes to stay in their homes for the two nights they were in town. Accommodations were arranged by Virginian and U. alum Sherman Smith, who believed the band needed to participate in the historic inauguration.

"It's a very worthy cause," Smith said, adding that he was happy to help his alma mater enjoy the experience and represent Utah.

The band spent one day touring Gettysburg, "which was very interesting," Stevens said.