Photo By Master Sgt. Barry Loo | Tech. Sgt. Anne Epperly, U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band flutist,...... read more read more
Subscribe
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Hundreds of star-spangled spectators converged in Williamsburg, Va., to see and hear the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band perform, July 4, 2012.
“I hope you're ready to get your toes tapping and your hands clapping,” said 1st Lt. Pete Folliard, USAF Heritage of America Concert Band conductor, to the audience, “I bet you you're going to be singing before the night's over.”
Wednesday's concert marked the first time the band performed an Independence Day show in Williamsburg, a city with a history dating back to the Revolutionary War.
The 40-member band, composed of full-time professional musicians, performed in a different city every evening for four days, as part of their concert series celebrating Independence Day.
The band played traditional concert music and famous patriotic songs such as: “You're a Grand Old Flag,” “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.”
People of all ages from surrounding areas endured the summer heat, and sat on the lawn of an 18th-century courthouse to witness the performance.
“We've had excellent crowds,” said Master Sgt. Ron Johnson, band non-commissioned officer-in-charge, “They've all been great!”
In addition to entertaining onlookers, the band served as a tool to allow for interaction between the Air Force and the public.
In some communities, people rarely see Service members in uniform, and only learn about the military through media and television. The band acted as a personally-witnessed military presence.
“We're displaying the excellence that's found in all parts of the Air Force, through music,” Johnson said.
Tech. Sgt. Anne Epperly, band flutist, happily complied with that charge.
“I love to play music,” she said, “I get to do that every day. I'm pretty lucky.”
For more information about the band, including schedules for future concerts, visit www.heritageofamericaband.af.mil
| Date Taken: | 07.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2012 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 91199 |
| Location: | WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Celebrating the Fourth of July through music, by MSgt Barry Loo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
