Kamaria Pearson has done the band thing.

The senior at Central High School has played the clarinet in school bands since the seventh grade. She's marched on countless football fields during halftimes and competitions and stayed in line down streets for homecoming and Veterans Day parades, but Jan. 13, she witnessed her first gubernatorial inauguration after marching in the inaugural parade in Jefferson City, Mo.

"As they were saying those words, that was big change, and I got to see it," she said.

To see it, Pearson and the rest of the Central Marching Tigers loaded buses at 4 a.m. Jan. 13 in below-freezing temperatures and headed to Jefferson City. The group was stuck in traffic for almost an hour near Pevely, Mo., because of a wreck.

As ambulances and firetrucks sped by, Pearson said, everyone got a little nervous.

"We all thought we were going to miss the parade," Pearson said. "We were sad."

They eventually started moving again and arrived at the capital with about 15 minutes to spare. They warmed up and stepped out into parade traffic.

"We were literally getting dressed as we were walking off the bus," she said. "It was really hurried, but it was worth it."

Pearson said she's not necessarily into politics, but she did vote in the November election. She said she never would have thought to go to an inauguration, but was glad she did this time.

"I'm not all into it like I guess I'm supposed to be," she said. "It was fun."

After the parade, the students watched Jay Nixon take the oath of office to become the governor of Missouri and the retirement of the colors. They ate lunch, had a tour of the Capitol building from Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and returned home to Cape Girardeau and back to business. Pearson is now practicing for solo and ensemble district contests where she will compete as a soloist and in a clarinet trio.

charris@semissourian.com

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