The Oak Ridge Community Band performs during a July 4, 2014 concert. (Photo by Larry Perry)
Special recognition will be given to area veterans and those currently serving in the military during an annual Memorial Day Concert by the Oak Ridge Community Band on Monday. The concert will start at 7 p.m. Monday, May 25, at A.K. Bissell Park.
During the show, the Oak Ridge Community Band will “kick off” its 71st season of outstanding band music with a program of patriotic music and popular American favorites, a press release said.
“The Memorial Day concert is an excellent way for area residents, families, and friends to end the holiday weekend and have the opportunity to honor the men and women who have served in the military to maintain our freedom,” the release said.
The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for outdoor seating around the Performing Arts Pavilion, and Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab will continue its tradition of providing refreshments.
The public is reminded that the concert has no admission fee, although donations are gratefully appreciated to help offset band expenses, the release said.
It said the 2015 Memorial Day concert will be especially entertaining with a number of special guest vocalists and a very special guest announcer, former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan. Guest vocalists include Charlie Blake, Mike Cates, Lettie Andrade De La Torre, Whitney Denton, Deidre Ford, Robert May, Brill Morrow, Roscoe Shipley, and Melody Turner who will be singing “God Bless the USA,” “The Stars and Stipes Forever,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “The Armed Forces Salute,” during which veterans and military personnel will be asked to stand for the theme song representing their branch of military service.
Among other numbers to be performed on Monday night are “Highlights from Showboat,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” Sousa’s “Semper Fidelis,” and “Black Granite,” which is a tribute to Vietnam War veterans.
The Oak Ridge Community Band is directed by Dale Pendley and assistant conductor Lisa Michaels, with rehearsals held every Thursday evening at the First Baptist Church. Area musicians, particularly college students and summer employees, are welcome to join the band for the summer season and can visit www.orcb.org or call (865) 483-3044 for more information.
Jason Allison says
Have we as a nation forgotten what the true meaning of memorial day is? A veteran is someone who came home. Since WWI, 619,300 Americans have given their lives to ensure our freedom, and that number grows each day. Those of us who are veterans have a day for us.
Philip W Nipper says
I could not agree more Jason. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day to honor and and pay tribute to our war dead. It seems that every year it gets more and more commercial. Just another opportunity to buy a car, a mattress or flat screen tv. Those of us who served and are above ground have Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day to celebrate. And we all have the 4th of July to honor our country and have a good time doing it. Let’s all try to remember and observe the true meaning of Memorial Day this year and every year.