Armstrong’s Armentrout Performed, Conducted Last Time Yesterday

by Jonathan Weaver

Yesterday’s Memorial Day Parade snuck up on Armstrong High Senior Jace Armentrout.

Armentrout – who split drum major duties with junior Kendra Hale this past school year – also played “Taps” at the Ford City VFW ceremony yesterday morning following the parade in what were his last school events before next week’s graduation.

He was asked to play at the beginning of May.

A trumpeter since fourth grade, Armentrout also played the military bugle call during a Girl Scout flag retirement ceremony May 21 in Kittanning Riverfront Park.

“I bought (the trumpet) at a yard sale two years ago for probably $30 – it’s probably the best one I’ve ever owned,” Armentrout said.

Brothers Todd and Will also played trumpet at Ford City Junior/Senior High.

The marching band has practiced since their Spring concert a few weeks ago

“(Last) week, we were outside marching around the school during band class. It was fun getting back into the hang of that,” Armentrout said.

The 18-year-old from Ford City has not decided if he will attend Westminster College or Indiana University of Pennsylvania this fall, but hopes to continue playing music.

Armentrout called his last day of Armstrong School District classes “bittersweet.”

“We finally made it through those 13 years, but now, you hate to see it gone,” Armentrout said. “Every single day for the past 13 years, I’ve been going to school and seeing my friends and now, next year it will be different. It’ll be a new environment and I’m not going to have all those familiar faces around me.”

Armentrout, the youngest of four brothers and sisters, is a nephew of retired U.S Army Brigadier General Robin Swan – who is now the U.S. Army Deputy Director in the Office of Business Transformation in Washington D.C.