News>Heritage of America Band bridges gap between military, community members
Photos
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Warner, Air Force Heritage of America Band commander, conducts band members during a performance at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. The band, based out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., has represented the Air Force with musical and military distinction since 1941. Warner is a native of Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Warner, Air Force Heritage of America Band commander, salutes the audience during a performance at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. Many veterans and their families came out to enjoy the Veteran’s Day-themed concert. Warner is a native of Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Staff Sgt. Rachel Trimble, Heritage of America Band vocalist, sings as the band plays during an appearance at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. The band performed more than 15 songs for audience-members in celebration of Veteran’s Day. Trimble hails from Colorado. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Airman 1st Class David Halperin, left, and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Boehmer, U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band clarinetists, perform a duet during a concert at Jesse Carson High School in China Grove, N.C., Nov. 9, 2012. The band plays a variety of jazz, classical and patriotic music for audience members, to include veterans, retirees and their families. Halperin hails from Illinois and Boehmer is a native of Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Senior Airman Emily Britton, front, and Airman 1st Class Dan Omer, Air Force Heritage of America Band French hornists, play during a sound check at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. The band’s appearance was part of a series of performances in North Carolina to celebrate Veteran’s Day. Britton is a native of New York and Omer hails from Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Charles Broadway)
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Warner, Air Force Heritage of America Band commander, conducts band members after a performance at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. Several audience-members took time to thank the commander for the band’s patriotic-themed concert. Warner is a native of Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Tech. Sgt. Edward Williams, Air Force Heritage of America Band percussionist, plays the drums during a sound check prior to the band’s performance at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 10, 2012. The band plays approximately 25 concerts a year in venues from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. Williams hails from New York. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Tech. Sgt. Anne Epperly, Air Force Heritage of America Band flutist and piccoloist, plays the flute during a sound check prior to the band’s performance at Jesse Carson High School in China Grove, N.C., Nov. 9, 2012. The band’s mission is to reach out to communities and tell the Air Force story through the use of wind, brass and percussion instruments. Epperly is a native of Virginia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
Audience-members stand and clap during a U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band performance of the Armed Services Medley at Jesse Carson High School in China Grove, N.C., Nov. 9, 2012. Veterans were encouraged to stand when they heard the band play their service-specific song. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Charles Broadway)
Senior Airman William Anger, Air Force Heritage of America Band audio engineer, labels a sound board prior to the band’s sound check at Jesse Carson High School in China Grove, N.C., Nov. 9, 2012. Anger, along with another Airman, helps to ensure the band’s microphones and speakers work properly. Anger hails from Colorado.(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Aubrey White)
by Staff Sgt. Chuck Broadway
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
11/15/2012 - GREENSBORO, N.C. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band plays approximately 25 concerts a year in venues from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, playing a variety of jazz, classical and patriotic music to an audience of retirees, children and families alike.
Their mission is to reach out to communities and tell the Air Force story through the use of wind, brass and percussion instruments. Bridging the gap between the military and the public is a high priority, said the band members and something they try to accomplish with each bang of a drum or toot of the horn.
During an eight-concert trip through North Carolina, the band touched crowds from Greensboro to Hickory and several points in between.
"We have such a good time each performance," said Master Sgt. David Dell, an 18-year trumpeter for the Air Force. "We have a lot of folks who are excited to tell us how much they love the show, but also a lot of people tell us their story of when they were in the military."
With a large population of military retirees dwelling in the central part of the state, during their performances here the band gave audience members a chance to remember the patriotic feeling of serving their country.
"It fills me with great pride to come out and see members of the Air Force perform like this," said George East, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant from Stoneville, N.C. "This is great for these guys to go out on tour and entertain the public. I come out every year when they're in the area and it gives people a good chance to interact with members of the Air Force."
The recent tour continued through Veteran's Day, and added an additional level of pride from military retirees, who stood and sang proudly during the band's rendition of the Armed Forces Medley.
"Hearing the Air Force song brought back such great memories and made my spine tingle," East said. "I'm proud of every veteran and enjoyed waving my hat during the Air Force song."
The majority of venues the band plays are miles from the nearest military installation and for many in the audience, the Airmen on stage are the only interaction they have with service members.
Many bandsmen say they take great pride in being the face of the Air Force, bridging the gap between service members and the community and uphold the highest standards when performing.
"We take on the persona of the entire military," Bell said when referring to those unfamiliar with the military. "It's important for us to have the best possible product out there. From the moment we step on stage, we conduct ourselves professionally. If we perform with excellence, the audience will tell people, 'if the band can be this great, then the Airmen at others bases must be incredible.'"
Whether their audience is a crowd of five or 5,000, the members of the Heritage of America band said they hit every note with a sense of pride and worth knowing the musical message they deliver touches many different people, in many different ways.
The travel time, countless hours of equipment setup and breakdown and daily rehearsals are justified, they said, when they receive resounding applause and standing ovations from the audience. It's for this reason, they play on.
