Photo By Sgt. Crystal Reidy | Arizona Guardsmen with the 108th Army Band braved stormy weather, July 2, at Fort...... read more read more
Subscribe
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Arizona Guardsmen with the 108th Army Band braved stormy weather, July 2, at Fort Tuthill’s Museum Country Park to support Arizona history by playing for more than 100 concertgoers at the annual Military Museum Independence concert.
Staff Sgt. Chanelle Jasso said the 108th Army Band has played the annual concert for as long as anyone in the unit can remember.
“I know I have played at this event for 12 years,” Jasso said. “I like it because it has so much history with the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry.”
Jasso said the event has become a tradition for some and a wonderful surprise for newcomers.
“Most of the audience is veterans and their families, and they love to sing along,” Jasso said. “We see a lot of the same faces each year, and they have favorite songs like ‘Beer Barrel Polka,’ and everyone joins in to sing.”
Marilyn Hammarstrom, the museum director, said this annual concert featuring the Army band is wonderful for the community.
“When they come from Phoenix it brings the mind of the community back to the Armed Forces and reminds our residents of Flagstaffs of great military history,” Hammarstrom said.
Lt. Col. (retired) Tee Cook said all Army bands are special but having an Arizona Army National Guard band brings back so many Arizona memories for him. The Vietnam veteran who served for more than 30 years began his military career with the 158th Infantry.
“That is why I love to come to the museum and hear the 108th Army Band. This is home to me,” Cook said.
When Ft. Tuthill was constructed, in 1929, it was considered an elite National Guard training facility and continued to serve as the annual field-training site for the 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard from 1929 to 1937, again in 1939, and for the last time in 1948.
The Fort Tuthill Military Museum mission is to preserve and present the distinguished history and traditions of the 158th Infantry Regiment, 158th Regimental Combat Team, and current 1st Battalion 158th Infantry Arizona National Guard. Exhibits showcase the history of the regiment from 1865 to Afghanistan deployment of 1st Battalion 158th Infantry. For more information on the museum, log onto http://www.forttuthill .org/.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2016 01:31 |
| Story ID: | 203497 |
| Location: | ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Army Band Brings back Memories at Concert, by SGT Crystal Reidy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
