Decatur native kicks off Air Force Band World War II Holiday Flashback

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

12.03.2015

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

WASHINGTON – Decatur native, Technical Sgt. David McDonald, and The United States Air Force Band surprised commuters at Union Station in Washington with a World War II Holiday Flashback Dec. 3, 2015.

Performing a Gene Krupa-style big band introduction, McDonald set the energetic performance in motion alongside colleagues from the official jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, the Airmen of Note.

“On a piece like this, I get a little bit more nervous than normal because it’s a big performance,” McDonald said. “Right before we start, I’m trying to get my head in the game, focus on the music, and remember how we rehearsed the piece.”

Throughout the next eight minutes, over 100 musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band slowly emerged from hiding dressed in World War II-era uniforms to perform a lively musical arrangement of “Jingle Bells” and “Auld Lang Syne.”

The spontaneous nature of the performance made it special, but it also created unique musical and logistical challenges, said McDonald before the event.

Members of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard wheeled musicians into the Main Hall of Union Station on rolling platforms.

“This is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, so we’re trying to honor our veterans from WWII, the greatest generation,” said Col. Larry Lang, the commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band. “We’ve designed some music just for them.”

The performing group was comprised of four of the six ensembles that make up The U.S. Air Force Band, including the Airmen of Note, the Air Force Strings, the Singing Sergeants, and the Concert Band.

“The excellence demonstrated by our Airman musicians in events such as this is a reflection of the same level of excellence carried out by Airmen stationed around the world,” Lang said. “We share the joy and hope of the season through music, and remember those serving all around the globe protecting our freedoms."

Headquartered at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, the United States Air Force Band is the premier musical organization of the Air Force, with 184 professional military musicians and support personnel.

The U.S. Air Force Band honors those who have served, inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impacts the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America.

To view the video of the performance, click here: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUSAFBand

• Date Taken: 12.03.2015
• Date Posted: 12.07.2015 16:21
• Story ID: 183739
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US