Video: Cymbal Fail Kid Gets His Redemption

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 5, 2013 9:30PM

Andrew Pawelczyk of Darien, IL

Local kid Andrew Pawelczyk made internet gold when the strap on his cymbal broke during a school performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The home video shows the 13-year-old student from Darien, Ill., hesitate, then calmly salute the flag for the remainder of the song. Video of Pawelczyk's patriotic recovery from the embarrassing incident has had the internet oooh-ing and awwww-ing (and laughing). His family says veterans have reached out to him to thank him for his salute. Now Pawelczyk is getting his 15 minutes of (mainstream media) fame.

Pawelczyk appeared on CNN on Tuesday, saying, "I didn't know if I should run and hide in the corner, get another pair or just stand there, but then it came to my head, maybe I should do something patriotic so I saluted the flag." He also appeared on Fox News, and of course Steve Doocy tried to get him to talk smack on the giggling drum player beside him. The kid kept it classy.

It's warm and fuzzy, but can the kid actually play the cymbals? Well, he got his redemption. WGN reporter Paul Konrad invited Pawelczyk on to the morning show for a re-do of the cymbal performance. It wasn't graceful (they couldn't get him some real cymbals?), but the instrument isn't supposed to be subtle. Watch below.