Cortland native receives Air Force awards

Photo By Scott Ash | Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Hoog presents the Exceptional Service Medal to retired Air Force Col. Arnald Gabriel conducts a special Memorial Day concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts May 24, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Gabriel served in the U.S. Army as a combat machine gunner and landed with the 29th Infantry Division in Normandy, France, on D-Day. As an Air Force officer, he served with the Air Force Band, retired as the band's commander in 1985. Gabriel turns 90 years old this week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

06.09.2015

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

WASHINGTON – Cortland native and The U.S. Air Force Band’s conductor emeritus, retired Air Force Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, was recently presented with two distinguished Air Force awards. On May 24, he received the Secretary of the Air Force Exceptional Service Award. Four days later, Gabriel was presented with the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association President's Award.

The Secretary of the Air Force Exceptional Service Award is presented to civilians for exemplary service in an advisory or technical capacity to a Department of Defense committee, program or project. Since his retirement from the Air Force in 1985, Gabriel has voluntarily conducted more than 2,000 U.S. and international concerts, reaching a global audience of more than one million. As the only conductor emeritus of The U.S. Air Force Band, his insight and tenacious support of the band career field have been critical to ensuring positive esprit de corps and career development for over 1,000 Airman musicians. Each of these services was voluntary, performed as a public service and motivated by patriotism with no remuneration.

The Exceptional Service Award was presented to Gabriel by Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force, as a part of the 2015 National Memorial Day Choral Festival concert. Gabriel was a guest conductor for this performance presented by the U.S. Air Force, Music Celebrations International and the American Veterans Center. The concert was performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Washington.

On May 28, Gabriel was awarded with the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association (AFPAAA) President's Award. Clem Gaines, president of AFPAAA, presented Gabriel with the award in Gabriel Hall at The U.S. Air Force Band’s Historic Hangar II on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Several current Band members were in attendance. The largest rehearsal and recording space in the band’s facility, Gabriel Hall was named for Gabriel in an official ceremony Jan. 8, 2009.

Gabriel retired from the United States Air Force in 1985 following a distinguished 36-year military career. He served with distinction as a combat machine gunner with the United States Army’s famed 29th Infantry Division in Europe during WWII, receiving two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the French Croix de Guerre. Following his separation from the Army in 1946, he enrolled in Ithaca College, where he earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Music Education.

From 1964 to 1985, Gabriel served as commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band. In 1989, Ithaca College conferred upon Gabriel an honorary Doctor of Music degree. He was further honored with the institution’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Gabriel was also an inaugural inductee to the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame of Cortland Junior Senior High School.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Pagnard
Chief of Marketing and Outreach
The U.S. Air Force Band
[e-mail]
202-767-4310

• Date Taken: 06.09.2015
• Date Posted: 06.10.2015 13:45
• Story ID: 166107
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US