Boomer surprises Beech Grove student at band practice

A Beech Grove student had a surprise stand-in for parent's night at band practice Thursday night.

BEECH GROVE, Ind. (WTHR) — A Beech Grove student had a surprise stand-in for parent's night at band practice Thursday night.

The Beech Grove High School marching band held their annual "Shadow Night" Thursday, a night where parents come to practice and march alongside their student. But Cliff Pappe, deployed to Iraq as a chaplain with the Indiana National Guard, wasn't going to be there.

So he reached out for some help.

As his son Jalen marched with his bandmates, Indiana Pacers' mascot Boomer was step-by-step behind.

While some of the parents traditionally wear costumes to the practice, this year, Jalen Pappe's "parent" had the best costume of all!