Bands honor military service members
Greenville Band joins with Eufaula Band in a military tribute. (Cecil Folds | The Standard)
MOLLIE S. WATERS/THE GREENVILLE STANDARD
Military service members were honored during a military appreciation pre-game show at the Greenville vs. Eufaula game on Friday night.
The Greenville High School (GHS) Tiger “Pride” Marching Band and the Eufaula High School Tiger Band performed military tunes in tribute those who have served or are currently serving in America’s different military branches.
GHS Band Director Brett Johnson said this is the second year in a row the Tiger “Pride” Band has had a military appreciation event.
“It was an amazing night,” Johnson said. “It was a win-win! It’s good for our kids to give back to the community, and our community really appreciated the performance.”
Johnson said the performance would not have been possible without the help of Eufaula’s band.
“I contacted the Eufaula band director about two weeks before the performance and asked if he would like to participate,” said Johnson. “It seems that he was just as excited as we were to be able to put on this military appreciation show.”
The bands opened with a tribute to the Army with “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” followed by the Marine Corps’ “The Marine’s Hymn,” then the Navy’s “Anchors Aweigh,” next the Air Force’s “Official U.S. Air Force Song,” and ended with the Coast Guard’s “Semper Paratus.”
The bands topped off their pre-game show with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The bands also worked with the JROTC students at GHS.
“This was a collaboration with our ROTC students as well,” said Johnson. “They presented the colors and presented each service flag as well as a giant American flag across the back field.”
Johnson added he feels recognition of America’s service members is important, and he was glad the band students from both bands could be a part of something to honor them.
“One of the reasons why we do this is to show our appreciation to all of the military men and women,” said Johnson, “but it’s also because the students were blessed with the gift of music, and being able to give back to the community is very rewarding to everyone.”
