Photo By Sgt. William Hill | Maj. Everett Baker, a plans and operations officer for The Directorate of Logistics at...... read more read more
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The sounds of downtown Columbus, Ind., were muffled by the roar of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter landing on Second Street, in front of the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, where hundreds gathered to hear the harmonic sounds of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s Salute, a free community concert, May 25, to honor veterans.
Once the helicopter’s engine shut off, the sounds of the city could once again be heard, along with the laughter of children and adults who climbed in the helicopter, satisfying their curiosity. One child mimicked the sounds of the helicopter as he pretended to fly it.
Indiana National Guard Capt. Casey Nunn, battery commander for Bravo Battery, 1-163rd Field Artillery Battalion, said the reaction from the community has been grateful and supportive for the soldiers and the equipment displays such as the Black Hawk helicopter, a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, and 105 mm howitzers.
“We have had a lot of positive feedback so far,” said Nunn. “A lot of people have come up already and displayed their gratitude for bringing all these assets that they can look at with their kids. They can climb through the vehicles to get a better familiarization with what we have and what we use overseas and at home.”
He said this gives the community a chance to talk to soldiers who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan and a chance for those soldiers to talk to veterans about their similar, but different experiences, which is the meaning of Memorial Day. Remembering those who have gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“I think people forget what Memorial Day is really about and by us being here, us having a presence here it reminds people what Memorial Day is truly about; the sacrifices that we made as a nation and as soldiers in defense of this county,” he said.
“We have a lot of guys who served overseas on multiple deployments between Iraq and Afghanistan and for those guys to come up here and get interaction with everyone here in Columbus and get to feel the presence and feedback of the population up here is great,” he said. “We have been a part of this for the last six years, and is something we will continue to be part of in the future.”
Dr. David Bowden, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic music director said in a press release that the Philharmonic’s Salute Community Concert is his favorite event each year and he knows the sacrifices that have been made for the nation’s freedom.
“Each time I program this concert, I am moved by the fact that freedom isn’t free and that the cost to those who have fought for our freedom has been high,” Bowden said. “Music expresses emotion and meaning in a powerful way, and this is especially so for songs that grow out of our nation’s conflicts to maintain our own freedom.”
All eyes were on the stage as the Philharmonic played the Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and at the climax of the performance, the howitzers fired a thunderous sound in harmony with the orchestra, muting the sounds of the city for a brief moment.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2012 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 89125 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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