MVAA Regimental Fife and Drum Unit to participate in National Memorial Day Parade
The event will mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and feature groups from across the country, from military bands to veterans organizations.
The sound of fifes and rope drums that once rallied Civil War soldiers will soon echo down Constitution Avenue, carried not by history books, but by a group of young musicians from the Mon Valley.
The Regimental Fife and Drum Unit of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts (MVAA) has been invited to perform in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on May 25, 2026.
The event will mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and feature groups from across the country, from military bands to veterans organizations.
For the Mon Valley, the invitation is a moment of pride.
Once defined by steel mills and coal towns, the region has long produced hardworking people and strong traditions.
Now, through MVAA, it’s producing musicians who will carry that legacy to a national audience.
A decade of arts in the Mon Valley
The news comes as MVAA officially enters its 10th anniversary year—a milestone that marks both a legacy fulfilled and a future being built in real time.
Founded in 2015 by longtime musician Mark Smith, with support from the late state Rep. Pete Daley and arts advocate Susan Sparks, MVAA started with one big band concert at Chess Park and a handful of passionate musicians. Ten years later, the organization operates daily out of two locations, serves students in four counties, and is preparing to take one of its ensembles to the nation’s capital.
Launched in 2020, MVAA’s Regimental Fife and Drum Unit began with “one or two drummers and one or two pfeiffers,” Smith said.
They performed for the first time in 2020 at the Memorial Day parade in Charleroi.
Since then, performances have included the opening of the Wounded Warriors convention in Gettysburg and the marching presentation on the battlefield in Gettysburg.
“A fife is [a] real small niche instrument and style of music,” Smith said.
The uniqueness — plus the FROM A1 chance to wear period uniforms — has been a magnet.
“I think the historical part of it was a big draw… I can see these kids, their personality changes when they put this stuff on.”
President Annette Buffer captured the mood as plans came together during the groups’ first pre-parade meeting Thursday.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity to go… we’re going to buzz the town, and we’re going to take over Washington,” she said.
Support from lawmakers
MVAA was nominated to participate in the parade by state Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township and U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters Township.
“I was proud to submit a letter of support for the Regimental Fife and Dram Unit at MVAA,” Cook said. “They have been practicing very diligently and performing at other venues such as the Whiskey Rebellion in Washington, Pa., and most recently at the Gettysburg Battlefield Bash. I look forward to seeing them participate in the National Memorial Day Parade, where they will not only represent the 50th District but also help honor America’s 250th anniversary on a national stage.”
“I am thrilled that the Regimental Fife and Dram Unit at the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts was selected to participate in next year’s parade,” Reschenthaler said. “It is a privilege to have a unit representing southwestern Pennsylvania, and their selection is a tribute to the time they have spent honing their skill.”
The official invitation arrived on July 29 in a letter addressed to Smith and signed by John P. Wiscombe, president of the National Memorial Day Parade. It underscored the experience awaiting the Mon Valley musicians: “By accepting this invitation, you are offering your musicians an opportunity to experience: our nation’s capital on Memorial Day; the chance to be a part of America’s official National Memorial Day Parade; unparalleled educational opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime; the excitement of attending the National Symphony Orchestra concert at the U.S. Capitol; the distinction of being featured on local, national, and international television coverage; and of honoring America’s war heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
Step by step
According to Smith, the MVAA unit will walk in the middle of the parade, directly behind Pennsylvania’s banner.
The marching block will showcase the Regimental Fife and Dram Unit—about 20 student members plus roughly 10 new recruits of all ages — followed by the 46th Pennsylvania Regimental Brass Band, infantry, and reenactors, with the full contingent approaching 100 people.
To Smith’s knowledge, the MVAA Regimental Fife and Dram will be the only fife-and-dram unit in the 2026 parade.
All of the equipment the unit uses has been purchased by the MVAA.
About $6,000 in drams, $3,000 in uniforms, and $2,000 in handcrafted fifes, funded through grants and donations.
To stick true to its mission to provide opportunities for young musicians, those marching in the parade will have costs for the trip covered by the MVAA.
Smith hopes two additional grants—one with EQT and another with the Laurel Highlands foundation—in progress, might help but he is hoping others see the value in the opportunity and decide to also offer their support.
The parade will anchor a three-day trip designed to immerse students in American history.
The group departs Sunday, May 24, 2026, traveling by Motorcoach to Washington, D.C., for the National Memorial Day Concert on the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn (televised on PBS).
On Memorial Day morning, the unit reports to the staging area before marching the one-mile route along Constitution Avenue.
After the parade, plans call for dinner and a walking tour of the monuments — Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War, World War II, and more.
On Tuesday, May 26, the itinerary includes Arlington National Cemetery to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with time permitting for stops at Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House before returning home.
More than a moment
The scale is almost unimaginable – seven lanes of spectators, tens of thousands on the street, national TV coverage, and a shared moment of remembrance and pride.
“This is the 250th anniversary of our country,” he said. “The next one is 250 years from now.”
The unit is preparing to send 100 members on the trip, with rehearsals already underway and fundraising efforts in motion.
MVAA has teamed up with Sparkles by Shell in Monongahela to power a community- driven fundraiser built around custom merchandise. The shop is producing MVAA parade T-shiits (priced at $25, with $ 10 per shiit going directly to the trip) along with hoodies and long-sleeves available through a QR-code ordering page. Sparkles by Shell is also pricing a 20-foot banner for the unit’s parade block.
It’s a simple way for families, alumni, and supporters to help make the trip happen all while wearing their Mon Valley pride on their sleeves.
For students and families, it will mean months of preparation — but also the experience of marching into history.
The National Memorial Day Parade is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators to the nation’s capital and reach millions more through national and international broadcasts.
When the MVAA unit steps into that spotlight, they won’t just be playing music. They’ll be c allying the spirit of the Mon Valley — and the history of the nation — into a moment that bridges 250 years of American stories.
“To be able to march right down Constitution Avenue, in the middle of the nation’s Memorial Day Parade, representing not only the Mon Valley but the entire state of Pennsylvania— it’s hard to put into words. This is more than just a performance; it’s an honor that connects our kids to history and to the veterans we’re there to remember.”
For information on how to support the trip visit monvalleyacademyforthearts. org call 724-565-1687. You can purchase apparel using the QR code, or reach out to the MVAA to see how to make a direct donation to the trip through their PayPal. They are also looking for more people to march, especially reenactors. For information on how to participate email info@monvalleyacademyforthearts. org.
