Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Jackson, with the North Carolina Army National Guard’s...... read more read more
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Since Sept. 11, 2001, the 440th Army Band, out of Raleigh, N.C., has participated in every going-away and welcome-home ceremony for the units of the North Carolina National Guard who have been called to active-duty for deployments.
Although the whole band cannot always be at every ceremony, it is important for the members that there is at least part of the band playing for the soldiers.
“Our primary mission is to support the military and primarily the Air and Army National Guard for the state of North Carolina,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brent Harvey, commander of the 440th Army Band. “For any and every mobilization or demobilization for any size unit, we are there in some kind of capacity, large or small, to support those events. It’s important for the soldiers and it’s important for their families.”
The 440th plays patriotic music like the national anthem and the Army Song at ceremonies and have performed at over 800 ceremonies for North Carolina soldiers leaving or returning from a deployment.
“We are the state’s band and it’s important for is to be at the ceremonies because we play certain songs that are meant for the soldiers going away and coming home,” said Sgt. Christopher McKinnon, who plays drums in the 440th. “And there’s nothing like the live version of it.”
In addition to the national anthem, it has become a tradition at going-away ceremonies to play Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” a song with lyrics that mention standing up and defending America.
“It hits home for a lot of people because the soldiers are getting up, leaving their families and deploying,” McKinnon said. “Having this band here that is playing music for them is heartfelt and the soldiers and their families enjoy it.”
Staff Sgt. Adam Bucherati, who deployed with D Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment in 2009 said music embodies the traditions of the Army and it is only fitting that the band be there for the ceremonies.
“At my unit’s deployment ceremony in 2009 the music provided by the band created a very patriotic atmosphere,” Bucherati said. “It was a fit beginning to out challenging deployment.”
First Sgt. Jerry Bowers, who plays the trumpet and is the senior ranking non-commissioned officer in the 440th Army Band, said he appreciates the sacrifice deploying soldiers make for their country.
“Those soldiers are really sacrificing much more than we are,” Bowers said. “We have a pretty easy go of it compared to those guys who are sacrificing a year of their life in a very dangerous situation. We want to do everything we can to show our support to those soldiers and honor them and their sacrifice.”
“I think its important and I look at it as our number one mission to be at the ceremonies,” Bowers said. “If we can do that than we’re successful as a unit. All the other stuff we do is important too, but it’s fluff compared to honoring our soldiers and it’s the least we can do to bring a few musicians together and honor what they are doing.”
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2013 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 110244 |
| Location: | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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