WEBVTT

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(audience claps)

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First Sergeant Brian
C. Hildebrand enlisted

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in the army in 1986 as a
musician, completing training

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at Fort McClellan, Alabama and
the U.S. Army School of Music

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in Norfolk, Virginia.

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He then served as a featured
soloist during his three years

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with the 36th Army Band at Fort Huachuca.

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After working as a band director
in Arizona public schools,

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he reenlisted back to the Army in 1997.

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Since then, he has held every
enlisted leadership position

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from Team Leader to First
Sergeant during his assignment

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at six different duty
stations, culminating

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in his assignment as a first
sergeant and acting commander

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of America's first corps band.

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His most significant contribution
was from 2016 to 2017

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at U.S. Army Garrison Yonsang
in Seoul, Korea, serving

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as the acting Command Sergeant Member

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of the Eighth Army Band.

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He led 61 soldiers and four
kotusas in six music performance

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teams for over 300
music missions, training

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for engine control point
security with a theory-wide

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exercise, key resolve.

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Joining First Sergeant
Hildebrand today is his spouse,

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Mrs. Angel Hildebrand.

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By order of the Commanding
General, America's first award,

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the Legion of Merit, is presented

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to First Sergeant Brian C. Hildebrand

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for exceptionally meritorious service

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over a 26-year career, culminating

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as the 56th Army Band First Sergeant.

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(cameras click)

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At this time, Major
General Graham will present

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the national flag to
First Sergeant Hildebrand

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on behalf of a grateful nation.

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(cameras click)

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Now Major General Graham
will place the retirement pin

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on First Sergeant Hildebrand and present

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the Certificate of Retirement.

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(presenter mutters)

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The Department of the Army
Certificate of Appreciation

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is present to Mrs. Angel
Hildebrand on the occasion

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of the retirement of her
status, a match of status

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with the United States Army.

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First Sergeant Hildebrand
and his wife Angel plan

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on staying in the Joint
Base Louis McChord area.

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First Sergeant Hildebrand plans to work

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in public service in Olympia, Washington,

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while staying musically
active, volunteering

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as a low brass musician in
the American Legion Band,

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singing with his local church
and the Capitol City Chorus.

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Angel will work as a transition counselor

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at Hawke Transition Center here
at Joint Base Louis McChord.

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Ladies and gentlemen, First
Sergeant Brian C. Hildebrand

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and Mrs. Angel Hildebrand.

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(audience cheers)

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- Well, first of all I love
Colonel Strider's comments

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about supporting the first responders.

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It's just huge right
now, so much is going on.

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In terms of my personal
life, I've been so honored

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to be able to serve as
a musician for the Army.

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The things that we do
to bring heart, to bring

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just encouragement to the
troops is huge, and I just

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had the honor to serve
with Julliard graduates

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and folks there that are
just of the highest caliber

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of musicians, but they chose
to serve out there playing

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for the Fourth of July,
for holiday concerts, just

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increasing the spirit and the intent

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of our soldiers to do their mission,

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do all those awesome
things that the Colonel

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was talking about.

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Of course, and I follow the
Colonel's thoughts as well

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in terms of thanking my God.

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Nothing gets done without him being first.

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Number two, most important
on this earth my wife Angel.

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Nothing gets done in my life
without her encouragement

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and her love, and I think
the standard's been set

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for some canoodling.

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(audience laughs)

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(audience cheers)

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So thank you very much, I appreciate it,

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and I'm a soldier for life.

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(audience yells)

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(audience cheers)

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- Okay, we probably have
a few words to read,

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so we're gonna stop all that.

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- Of course sir.

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- Okay, you good with that?

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- That'll work, sir.

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- All right, so I need
the applause-o-meter.

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We don't have the band
out here, we don't have

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a sound system set up, but
I do have the HHB commander

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who can come up here and
she can sing the corps song.

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(audience murmurs)

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No, I don't think, no.

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If they would've, I know
she would embarrass us all.

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No, she would nail it, okay?

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As we started this off,
just want to say thank you

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to the families here of both
of ya for the amazing support.

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Altogether half a century of support

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from the families here to
these two amazing soldiers.

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We thank you for what
you've done, and we know

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that you will continue to live within us,

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because your legacy is them, right?

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And they will take that and
continue to pass that on.

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So Major, last words?

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- I think you covered it all, sir.

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- Okay, all right folks.

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Thanks for everybody who
put this thing together

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on their amazing, beautiful
day here in western Washington.

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So Godspeed to both of you two
and your families, thank you.