WILLIAMSBURG, Va. –
Amidst the quaint store fronts, cafes and brick-hewn streets of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., the U.S. military's world-class musicians took the stage to celebrate the nation's Constitution in a rousing, patriotic concert at Merchant's Square, Sept. 15.
Soldiers of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band and Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band joined forces to perform an 80-minute set of songs in honor of Constitution Day. These songs included patriotic classics, contemporary country hits and cinematic scores. Approximately 50 performers decked out in their respective service dress uniforms participated.
The Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps joined the show as well, marching in clad in their distinctive red uniforms and regalia and performing traditional American marches.
Throughout the show, guest narrator Raymond Jones, an on-air personality from a local public radio station, guided fans in attendance through the storied history of the birth of the U.S., from colonization through revolution and independence. Character actors portraying presidents George Washington and James Madison performed historic speeches promoting the show's titular theme, "To Support and Defend."
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Warner, the AFHOA Band commander, said Merchant's Square's colonial charm and American ancestry provided the perfect site for the Constitution Day performance. This year marked the fourth year the AFHOA Band performed in the show, and the second year of joining forces with TRADOC.
"Williamsburg is a place where both commands have interacted with the community for many years. What better place to have this concert than in the seat of American history?," said Warner. "When we achieved joint basing a few years ago, we saw this as the perfect opportunity to represent the joint base to the peninsula community."
U.S. Army Maj. Leo Pena, the commander of the TRADOC Band, echoed Warner's sentiment.
"We're always happy to reach out and be part of the community, as it's what we do as a band," Pena said. "It's even better to enjoy doing the show in this joint partnership. We look forward to these opportunities."
The local community appreciated the show, with hundreds packing Merchant's Square's brick streets. Fans camped in lawn chairs, watched from sidewalks and cafe patios, and listened from storefronts - any place they could to get a glimpse of the band and the sound of the music.
Melissa Baylor, a Williamsburg resident and mother of two, called the performance "outstanding," and said she was more than happy to bring her children out to enjoy the "wonderful weather and beautiful music."
The TRADOC Band accomplished more than 400 mission performances in the last year, with nearly 15 concert performances. The AFHOA Band tallies nearly 300 performances annually, with a growing schedule slated for 2013.
Want to catch these military bands in action? For more information about the AFHOA Band,
http://www.heritageofamericaband.af.mil/. To learn more about the TRADOC Band, visit
http://www.tradocband.com/.