To build Veishea’s future, the past should be remembered. This sentiment will be honored as a group of senior citizens prepares to perform in the annual Veishea parade.

To celebrate Heartland Senior Services’ 25-year anniversary, the Heartland Senior Band will be performing in the parade Saturday, the first of the group’s six scheduled events this season.

Sarah Henry, Veishea parade bands coordinator, said she was excited to include the Heartland Senior Band in the parade. All of the members of the band are age 60 or older.

“It will be nice to include people of all ages,” said Henry, senior in liberal studies. She said she hopes the band’s participation will inspire other members of the community to become involved with Veishea.

Kathryn Andre, Heartland’s director of public relations and volunteers, said the band has been together for several years but has never played in a parade.

Andre said members of the center, which is located at 208 S. Walnut St., were trying to decide how to celebrate the anniversary. She said using the band “just sprang to mind.”

Although the band members are accustomed to performing on an indoor stage, they are looking forward to participating in the parade, Andre said.

“They’ve been talking about it for months,” she said. “They’re very excited.”

The band’s weekly Thursday practices will continue after the Veishea parade, and it is scheduled to play in five additional events throughout Story County this summer.

But at the moment, the band is concentrating on preparing for its performance on Saturday.

Led by retired music teacher and Ankeny resident Jim Selland, the band has been practicing on top of a flatbed trailer equipped with guard rails, donated by AgriPro Seeds.

The band’s musicians are from all over Story County, with 11 of the members from Ames.

Saxophonist Lou Shellhorn, 71, said she had not played her instrument for more than 50 years until she joined Heartland’s band.

“It’s wonderful to be in a parade after 50 years of absence,” she said. “Young people should get involved with music because they can use it all their lives.”

Elsie Prater, 76, an Ames resident who plays clarinet in the band, said she enjoys the intangible rewards of playing with her peers.

“It’s really a therapy thing to play,” she said.

Heartland Senior Services welcomes anyone older than 60 to join its band or join other members in serving the older rural community of Story County.

Andre said the band’s next performance will be in June, during Story City’s Scandinavian Days parade. The band also is booked to perform in Colo, Nevada and Maxwell.