thedrifter
02-24-06, 10:02 AM
Military gets loving salute at concert
Families and veterans among hundreds at Notre Dame High School.
By SALLE E. RICHARDS
Star-Gazette
srichards@stargazette.com
February 24, 2006
SOUTHPORT - The musicians began to play and a large United States flag was raised Thursday night at the back of the Notre Dame High School auditorium stage as about 300 audience members began to swell with pride.
"A Salute to Our Armed Services" had begun with the school band joined by representatives from American Legion Post No. 154 presenting the colors.
The audience members ranged from band parents to relatives of those serving in the military to veterans.
To those with loved ones now serving in Iraq, the concert provided a welcome distraction from worry.
"This is his second tour," said Mary Moore, 51, of her son, Army Sgt. Duane Moore, who is in Sinjar, Iraq. "I don't hear from him much this time."
Mary Moore said the current conflict between religious groups just adds to her anxiety.
"By biggest fear is they will have a civil war," she said.
Many of the young musicians themselves have relatives in the military and were enthusiastic about dedicating a concert to honor those serving or who served their country.
"My brother served in Afghanistan," said Melissa Paciorek, 17, the oboeist in the band. "It's important to make people aware of what they are doing."
Mark Harrison, 42, of Elmira, whose daughter plays clarinet in the band, said she and her friends seemed very excited about the concert.
Tangela Constant had two reasons to come to the concert: her son, Vaughn Washington, playing saxophone in the band, and her husband, Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley Constant, who is stationed in the Bronx.
The musical selections from an opening "You're a Grand Old Flag" to a special "The Fade Coat of Blue" featuring vocal soloists Taryn Lindquist and Franc Laux underscored the patriotic theme of the evening.
Audience members, too, came in red, white and blue. A contingent from Elmira Heights are regular attendees at a monthly prayer service for those in the military.
"My son was wounded in Iraq," said Mary Erickson, 51, of McCann's Boulevard in Elmira Heights.
Linda Maine, 51, of Orchard Hill Road in Elmira Heights, has twin sons in the Marines, one who returned from Iraq in September and the other who is heading out for his second tour.
"This time he's on a ship," Maine said.
The band also featured area jazz drummer George Reed in the "Bugle Boy." Father Jason Kappanadze, pastor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Elmira Heights, also joined the concert as a guest piano accompanist.
Soloist Laux was part of the first class to go through Notre Dame High School.
After a full selection of favorite patriotic songs like "God Bless the U.S.A." and "Civil War Suite," the concert concluded with an audience singalong, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Ellie
Families and veterans among hundreds at Notre Dame High School.
By SALLE E. RICHARDS
Star-Gazette
srichards@stargazette.com
February 24, 2006
SOUTHPORT - The musicians began to play and a large United States flag was raised Thursday night at the back of the Notre Dame High School auditorium stage as about 300 audience members began to swell with pride.
"A Salute to Our Armed Services" had begun with the school band joined by representatives from American Legion Post No. 154 presenting the colors.
The audience members ranged from band parents to relatives of those serving in the military to veterans.
To those with loved ones now serving in Iraq, the concert provided a welcome distraction from worry.
"This is his second tour," said Mary Moore, 51, of her son, Army Sgt. Duane Moore, who is in Sinjar, Iraq. "I don't hear from him much this time."
Mary Moore said the current conflict between religious groups just adds to her anxiety.
"By biggest fear is they will have a civil war," she said.
Many of the young musicians themselves have relatives in the military and were enthusiastic about dedicating a concert to honor those serving or who served their country.
"My brother served in Afghanistan," said Melissa Paciorek, 17, the oboeist in the band. "It's important to make people aware of what they are doing."
Mark Harrison, 42, of Elmira, whose daughter plays clarinet in the band, said she and her friends seemed very excited about the concert.
Tangela Constant had two reasons to come to the concert: her son, Vaughn Washington, playing saxophone in the band, and her husband, Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley Constant, who is stationed in the Bronx.
The musical selections from an opening "You're a Grand Old Flag" to a special "The Fade Coat of Blue" featuring vocal soloists Taryn Lindquist and Franc Laux underscored the patriotic theme of the evening.
Audience members, too, came in red, white and blue. A contingent from Elmira Heights are regular attendees at a monthly prayer service for those in the military.
"My son was wounded in Iraq," said Mary Erickson, 51, of McCann's Boulevard in Elmira Heights.
Linda Maine, 51, of Orchard Hill Road in Elmira Heights, has twin sons in the Marines, one who returned from Iraq in September and the other who is heading out for his second tour.
"This time he's on a ship," Maine said.
The band also featured area jazz drummer George Reed in the "Bugle Boy." Father Jason Kappanadze, pastor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Elmira Heights, also joined the concert as a guest piano accompanist.
Soloist Laux was part of the first class to go through Notre Dame High School.
After a full selection of favorite patriotic songs like "God Bless the U.S.A." and "Civil War Suite," the concert concluded with an audience singalong, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Ellie