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Author: LCL
Date: 2011-07-11 14:32
This past Saturday afternoon, our community band played at the WWII Museum in New Orleans under the wing of a C47 and a P51 Mustang both suspended from the ceiling - no pun intended. It was a great concert, not because we did play very well, but because the audience contained several WWII veterans whom you could tell it meant a great deal to when they stood and were recognized during the Armed Forces Salute. The acoustics were great beneath the wing span, who knew. It was all I could do to hold back the tears as these guys stood and the audience applauded for them. I had that same feeling when I stood on the Arizona Memorial a few years ago. Born just after WWII ended and as the leading edge of the boomers, I owe these service men and women a debt I can never repay. I only hope by playing for them, their waning days are bit happier. And oh by the way, when our vocalist sang the Carmen Dragon version of America the Beautiful, I think I heard Kate Smith join in!
God Bless America!
LCL
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-07-11 20:29
SWe do a similar performance every Memorial Day, and always ask all the Veterans to stand during this piece so theymay be recognized. In addition to being a crowd pleaser, it is a great show of respect for those who have served their country!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: DougR
Date: 2011-07-12 02:30
Thanks for the story, Lynn--what a wonderful evening. I've had a couple like that as a musician, where I felt lucky to be in the right place at the right time. One was getting sent as a sub to play Sousa marches at a ceremony at the base of the Statue of Liberty, where a bunch of new American citizens were being sworn in. Lots of little American flags happily waving in the hands of old folks, little kids, all ages and races, everyone very excited and happy. it was great.
The other was playing alto in a big band at a 50th anniversary celebration of the launching of the USS Intrepid, a floating museum/former WWII aircraft carrier docked on the Hudson River. It was on the hangar deck (the one right below the flight deck) on the carrier, and lots of old Navy personnel, their wives and families, showed up in their spiffiest dress uniforms. We gave them our best Glenn Miller, Harry James, Artie Shaw, Dorsey, et al., and they boogied all night. THAT was a privilege. The crowd seemed to like it, and I'll sure never forget it.
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