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On 7/18/2011 2:18:55 PM Sergeant Daniel T. West, 358th Public Affairs Detachment wrote
For most participants, that means radios, networks, telephones. It's all about technology. Participants from various nations come together because they've got the same task, and work with the same equipment.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Victor Hornilla found another way to communicate during his time here. An avid trumpet player and former conductor, he approached the Gambian military band which marched in the opening ceremonies for Africa Endeavor, asking if they could use an extra musician. They did, and he proudly marched among them.
Afterward, mention was made of the Gambia Police Band, which would be holding rehearsals in Falajar Barracks just a stone's throw from the exercise site, and would he be interested in meeting them?
Of course he was.
He introduced himself, and just a few days later was a guest at one of their rehearsals. Immediately on his arrival, he secured a cornet and took his place amongst the brass, stumbling a few times over the new music but acquitting himself well.
Soon, though, the band's director beckoned him to the front and offered up the baton. Hornilla took the podium and led the band in a rousing march, stopping briefly from time to time to offer some simple instruction. The music transcended whatever lingual and cultural barriers which may have existed.
"Music's music wherever you go," Hornilla said afterward. "It's like a universal language."
While Hornilla freely admitted the side trip had little to do with the overall aims of the exercise, calling it a "personal perk," it does correlate pretty well.
Really, when it comes down to it, Africa Endeavor is all about communication. It's communication between people of different cultures, different languages, different nations. Whether that communication is via radio, via network, person-to-person or through music, it's all communication.
For a morning's rehearsal, Hornilla worked with the Gambia Police Band. During that time, there were smiles, a few bemused looks, lots of spectators, but above all and communicating fluently, there was music.
For people from two very different cultures, all in one place for a short time, total strangers, that's pretty impressive.
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