Camden Fairview’s selection to take part in the Inaugural Parade is an incredible honor – perhaps the highest honor a marching band can receive. Thousands of bands from across the nation - ranging from junior high to Ivy League colleges - applied to march in the parade, yet only 34 were selected by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to participate! 

The Camden Fairview band will march along a 1.7-mile parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue, that begins at our nation's Capitol and ends at the White House. Nearly half-a-million people will observe the parade route along the way, and millions more will watch the parade live on national television. 

I was proud to attend the announcement ceremony, where I had the opportunity to congratulate the band members in person for their prestigious selection.  And given that I am the proud parent of a young band member, I know first-hand how incredibly proud their families and their community must feel regarding their tremendous accomplishment.

The honor awarded to the students of the Camden Fairview Cardinal Band is the perfect example that our public education system is a place where students are academically challenged and a place where they have the opportunity to  explore and discover their other gifted talents - in this case music.

Again, congratulations to the students, faculty and parents associated with the Camden Fairview Cardinal Band for being chosen to participate in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. There is no question that when this band has the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world next month, they will make the people of the great state of Arkansas very proud.

If a single person's income is no more than $12,569, or a married couple’s income is no more than $16,862, and have no other prescription coverage, they may qualify for a $600 credit to help pay for prescription drugs. If qualified, Medicare will apply a $600 credit to the Medicare-approved drug discount card. 

A person can receive the $600 credit for 2005 as long as they enroll during the first quarter of 2005. However, if enrolled by December 31, 2004, seniors are eligible to receive a $600 credit for 2004, which can be carried over to 2005. Added with the $600 credit for 2005, the total credit toward prescriptions for 2005 would be $1200. 

To sign up for the drug card, applicants may call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 
or visit www.medicare.gov and select “Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs.” 
TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.