The Sapulpa High School band is celebrating a marquee appearance in the Big Apple. The students were the only Oklahoma band at the New York Veterans Day Parade. For one member, that appearance was special on a very personal level. "Losing my dad was hard," Kayci Owen said. Owen says her dad, Kirk Owen, was in the Oklahoma National Guard for most of her life. Five years ago, he was killed in Afghanistan, right outside of Kabul. "It still has an effect on me and my sister both, but when we get to do stuff like this, it means a lot," Owen said. Owen plays the clarinet and is the drum major for the band. "Every Monday for the last three or four months, we had sectionals and we had to memorize our music and practice our marching in parade blocks," Owen said. Owen said leading her band in something as special as the Veterans Day Parade and honoring her father and other veterans was emotional. "I kind of had to block some of the emotions out to make sure I wouldn't get nervous," Owen said. While Owen was keeping it cool marching the streets of New York City, her older sister, Kylie, was another story. "It was really emotional," Kylie said. "I teared up a few times, but it was happy tears. I am so happy we are here, and I can't imagine being anywhere else in the world." Kylie said she was so proud watching her baby sister march down Fifth Avenue celebrating their dad and those who have served and are serving our country. "We had our dad in our hearts that day, and so many other people that came with us actually did, too," Kylie said. "They knew him, and they know our family really well." The band will be heading back to Tulsa Monday.