US Air Force Heartland of America Band

Sat nite, 14 Oct, at 7 pm the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band Concert Band performed at the Loras College Fieldhouse in Dubuque. The band was under the command of Lt Col A. Phillip White. They gave what I felt was an excellent 2 hr performance.

The 1st half of the program was your typical concert performance. It consisted of a blend of classical & popular music. After the introduction of the band it naturally began with the National Anthem. The concert proper began with Shostakovich's Festive Overture. I am sure it will come as no surprize to hear that a piece by John Philip Sousa, The Gallent Seventh, was included. 2 other pieces performed were Dance of the Southern Lights by Eric Roberts & On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by David Holsinger. The Southern Lights piece featured an excellent solo performance by SrA Melissa Blizzard.

But 2 pieces in particular set a theme of sorts that could be considered a salute to New York City. It also served as a musical memorial to those whose lives were lost in the attack of 9-11. The 1st piece came midway through the set. It was Johan De Meij's Symphny #2, The Big Apple, 1st Movement Skyline. This piece catches not only the skyline, but what could be described as the heartbeat of downtown Manhatten on a busy day. The 2nd piece which closed out the 1st half of the program was Suite from West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein. The vocals were performed by TSgt Ken Maxwell (tenor) & SSgt Krista Joyce (mezzo-soprano).

After a 15 minute intermission came what I consider to be both a musically entertaining piece as well as an enjoyable history lesson about the US Air Force. For those who are unaware, the USAF actually began as a part of the Army. It became a seperate branch of the armed forced on 18 Sept 1947 as a result of the National Security Act of 1947.

The piece was titled Here I Am . . . Send Me ~A Salute to Our Combat Airmen~. For each period of the USAF history that it looked at it used music, pictures & film, as well as letters & journals (real & imaginary, which it makes clear when they are this) of service men & women. Some parts were serious, some humorous. But, it caught the heart of what the USAF is. I know that some people would say that something like this glorifies war. I would disagree. It shows people who are called to do a job, that at times is ugly, but is often needed so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in the USA. It does a great job of telling what we as a country owe to the men & women who have served in the Air Force.

It begins in 1943 at a base in wartime England. (I am not sure if it was the same place where my Dad, who was in the USAF for 22 yrs, was stationed during the war.) Then it went on to what might be 1 of the Air Force's greatest moments, the Berlin Airlift. Next it went on to the Korean War. The music to set the tone was the main theme from M*A*S*H. While it wasn't from that era because of the movie & TV show it does symbolize that period for most of us. Then onto Vietnam (my Dad was there in 62.) using the Rolling Stones' song Paint It Black. (I found it interesting as well as a bit ironic that they would use 2 songs that could be considered anti-war.) 1 of the focuses was on the work that women did as a part of the USAF to care for those who were wounded & dying. They also dealt with the Hanoi Hilton & the horror that it was. Then there was the post war air lift of the prisoners of war. & the airlift of all those S Vietnamese orphans to the USA that provided them with a much better life then they would have ever had under the communist rule that Vietnam has had for the past 30 yrs. Next came the Cold War yrs. This was followed by The Persian Gulf War, Desert Storm which was literally won by the Air Force. On to Bosnia & ending with what is now going on in the War on Terror.

I know that part of the reason for the USAF Band is as a recruiting tool. I have no problem with that. The Air Force plays an important role in the defense of the USA. & as you may have already figured out, to some extent I consider myself an Air Force brat. I only saw my dad for 2 weeks at Christmas (Thanksgiving in 61 since Dad was going to Vietnam for a yr.) for the 1st 10 yrs of my life. He spent most of that time at Pease AFB in New Hampshire. So, even though I didn't spend any time in service I see that I did my part by the sacrifice of not having my Dad at home. So, the USAF does have a special place in my heart.

The Concert Band does an excellent job as an ambassador for the USAF. Too often, esp after the Vietnam War our military has been put down & berated rather than appreciated for what they do. I wish that we didn't need a military. Unfortunately, do to humanity's sinful nature, a fruit of Original Sin, we need a group who is willing to stand up & see that our basic human rights under natural law are protected. Until Jesus returns we will need them. Menawhile, thanks to all for what you have done/are doing to preserve liberty & justice for all.