Forest Heights, Md. – Forest Heights officials contributed $1,500 to Forest Heights Elementary School to allow them the opportunity to perform for the first time at the 2014 Miss America “Show Us Your Shoes” Parade Sept. 14 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Students from Forest Heights Elementary were among those selected nationwide to sing as part of a 500-member choir. A total of 15 students and 24 chaperones from the Forest Heights-Oxon Hill area are expected to take part in the trip. This year’s parade will feature over 4,000 marchers, 15 floats, 15 marching bands and dozens of special units. This will also be the first time that the parade will be televised live. The parade step off will take place at 5 p.m. on the Boardwalk at Revel Casino-Hotel and end at the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel.
“Without the generous support of Mayor Goodall and the Town Council of Forest Heights, we would not have been able to attend this event, and we would like to thank them for their support of the arts and academic programs at Forest Heights Elementary,” said school principal Chester Brookover. “A lot of our kids have never been out of Forest Heights, and it’s going to be a really unique experience for them to be marching down the Boardwalk elbow to elbow on each side.”
Forest Heights Mayor Jacqueline Goodall and the Town Council presented a check to Brookover at the Aug. 21 Town Council Meeting, who accepted it on behalf of the school. The money will be used to cover the transportation costs for the trip.
“It is the vision of my administration to work with all of the stakeholders in and around Forest Heights to improve the community and quality of life for all, and this includes even our youngest citizens,” Goodall said. “It is our pleasure to work with the elementary schools in our town to help them achieve their goals.”
Town officials are also collaborating with Forest Heights Elementary to develop a number of programs aimed at developing opportunities for at-risk youths.
The Town of Forest Heights comprises approximately 2,500 residents and 945 homes that straddle both sides of Maryland Route 210, and is located near the Capital Beltway, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and National Harbor.
The parade will be broadcast live on Philadelphia television station WPHL from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 14, and rebroadcast before the pageant finals Sept. 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. on WPVI.
The Miss America finale will be televised live from 9 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 on ABC.