The Cape Girardeau Central High School band will march Monday in the Missouri Governor's Inaugural parade in Jefferson City.

Director Ron Nall said the Marching Tigers band is one of 13 from across the state invited to participate. The parade starts at 10 a.m.

"It was totally unsolicited on our part," Nall said. "We feel it's quite an honor."

Nall said the invitation came from State Auditor Margaret Kelly.

Following the parade, the band will attend the inauguration ceremony.

"We hope to take the students on a tour of the capital and allow them to view a lot of the activity that will be going on that day," Nall said.

The students will be guests of Kelly at a lunch in the Truman State Office Building, along with State Senator Peter Kinder and Representatives Mary Kasten and David Schwab.

The band will perform one of it's contest pieces, "Everybody's Everything."

"It's the piece we used in the homecoming and fair parades here," Nall said.

Preparing for the parade has meant some cold, early morning rehearsals. "But the kids have seem real excited," Nall said.

The band leaves about 4 a.m. Monday and will return to Cape Girardeau Monday evening.

"We've never marched in an inaugural parade," Nall said. But the band has performed for several political figures including former President Ronald Reagan and Vice President Dan Quayle during their visits to Cape Girardeau.