Photo By Sgt. Sarah Anwar | Twenty-six high school marching bands from across the state of Washington brought...... read more read more
Twenty-six high school marching bands from across the state brought the music for the 51st annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade Nov. 5. This is one of the oldest and largest parades in the United States paying tribute to current military members and retired veterans
Zachery Heiser, 18, is a member of the Ilwaco High School marching band. He has been participating in this parade throughout his high school career.
“I have participated in the parade for 3 years,” said Heiser, “it’s impacted my life big time because going from Auburn [high school] to this amazing band that I’m a part of has made me come out of my shell so much since then and I’ve grown to be a better musician since.”
Heiser added that many of his family members have served in our armed forces and being able to participate in the parade has special meaning to him.
“It’s a great feeling to be here and celebrate all of them (service members),” said Heiser.
The progression of music in the military spans over hundreds of years dating back to 1756 when the first appearance of a military band was recorded in history.
Stephanie Williams-Knutson, a fallen soldier’s wife from Auburn, has been attending the parade for over 20 years and has passed the tradition of going to the parade down to her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.
“When the songs of the military play it brings back the memories of those that have served and I’m sure it means that for all the veterans,” said Williams-Knutson. “It brings them back to that time they were with their units and it brings us who support (the military) all together remembering our people of America.”
From the Revolutionary War with signal corps drummers, to the full brass bands on the front lines of World War II, to the 3rd Armored Division Band performing in enemy territories in 1990 while the 24th Infantry Division advanced into Iraqi territory and now today where we see our young generations still performing the melodies of the armed forces songs continuously plays a significant role to boost the morale of our current service members and veterans and celebrate the remembrance of the fallen.
Former Army sergeant Michael Allen from Fort Worth, Texas, went to Vietnam in 1967. He said it was always nice when he was stateside to hear the music of the military in parades.
Allen recognized that music has been part of the military for eons “when there was just the flutes and the drums,” he said, and to see where it is now — is astonishing.
“Music puts you in a good mood,” said Allen, “It makes people move, you can feel it in your bones.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2016 17:51 |
| Story ID: | 214078 |
| Location: | AUBURN, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Young to Old Music is Still Music, by SGT Sarah Anwar, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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