The departure was just another step in a process that's been a year and a half in the making.

"It's been a lot of hard of work to get to this point," said tuba player Jordan Raber. "Hopefully we make the town proud."

The band has put in more than 40 hours of extra practice to perfect their march, and especially the :90 second routine they'll perform on national television.

"That's a big responsibility and I think we've prepared enough," said trumpet section leader Hannah Hoskinson. "I think we can handle that."

Seven buses and one truck left Morgantown High School carrying almost 300 students and chaperones to New York City.

The band last performed in the Thanksgiving Parade in the 1960's, but the band has submitted tapes to the parade committee year after year before finally receiving the invitation once again.

"It's all of the years of the band, and being a former band member, even though it's been 20-plus years since I was in the band, you know. My participation in the band has somewhat lead to this day," said chaperone Jeff Davis.

Many people share the band's pride and accomplishment. The community has stepped up to help pay part of the $202,000 price for the trip.

"We've had so many letters, e-mails from past band members and community members," said assistant band director Joel Cotter. "We've had monetary support from individuals and corporations throughout the area and it's really been tremendous, the response."

It's more than just monetary support for Jordan Shamberger.

"It just really gives a lot of meaning to what we're doing," he said. "It just uplifts us and makes us even better."

Now, all that's left, is the parade.

"Just to get out there, perform, do what we do best, and have a good time while doing it," Shamberger said, "and having a lot of people enjoy watching what we're doing...to me, that's pretty cool."

The band is scheduled to hit the Macy's storefront and the national spotlight at about 11:06 a.m. Thursday. They'll perform a special arrangement of "Country Roads."

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is televised on WBOY.