The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” presents its annual end-of-summer 1812 Overture Concert on historic Fort Myer’s Summerall Field. The family-friendly program features The U.S. Army Concert Band, Herald Trumpets, Army Chorus, vocal soloists from Pershing’s Own, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and the Presidential Salute Battery of the 3D U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). This year’s special guest is singer, composer, arts advocate, and 2019 Miss America, Nia Franklin.
For over three decades, Pershing’s Own has presented this concert to connect the community through music, and highlights the excellence and professionalism found across today’s Army. This concert is produced with the support of the Military District of Washington.
Transcript
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, from our nation’s capital, please welcome the United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own, under the baton of our leader and commander, Colonel Andrew Esch. (audience applauds) (singing in foreign language) (triumphant orchestral music) (audience applauds)
Ladies and gentlemen at this time, we ask that you please stand and join in the singing of our national anthem. O, say can you see By the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight’s last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rocket’s red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free And the home of the brave (audience cheers)
Please be seated. Join us now in welcoming the host for this evening’s performance, the 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Joseph M. Martin. Well ladies and gentlemen, good evening, I’m Master Sergeant Dave Brown, your master of ceremonies for tonight’s program. We dodged the weather, the Air Force was right. (audience cheers) It is my high honor and distinct privilege to welcome you on behalf of the finest group of military musicians anywhere in the world, the United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own. Thank you. (audience applauds) Tonight we showcase the incredible talent of these soldier-musicians performing music by Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, Queen and everything in between, and tonight, using a little bit of technical wizardry, you will all have a chance to be a part of the show. Now you’ve done the, you’ve seen these wristbands, everybody’s got it on, hold up your wrist bands right now. Everybody, beautiful, yeah! Okay, you’ll see they’ll be going off during the show, and when they do, you can hold them up and let everybody see those. The second way I’m sure nobody’s gonna pull out their phone any time during the show, but if you do, go to usarmyband.com/vote. You can go there and you can vote, you’re probably familiar with the famous piccolo solo in “Stars and Stripes”. We’re gonna play that at the end of the show, and based on your votes, one of four sections is going to take over and play that solo. So pull out your phone, usarmyband.com/vote, vote for your favorite section. We start tonight by featuring the U.S. Army Chorus, established in 1956 as the vocal counterpart of the U.S. Army Band. For more than 60 years, the Army Chorus has maintained an unparalleled reputation of excellence, performing a wide range of music favorites from classical and pop to Broadway and beyond. They are favorites of the White House, the State Department and the Capitol, singing for presidents, senior leaders, royalty and heads of state, and tonight they sing a couple of songs that give a bit of insight into the unique joys of Army life. Singing “This is the Army, Mr. Jones”, and “They Say That in the Army”, please welcome the U.S. Army Chorus. (audience applauds) A bunch of frightened rookies Were listening filled with awe They listened while a sergeant was laying down the law They stood there at attention, their faces turning red The sergeant looked them over and this is what he said This is the Army, Mister Jones No private rooms or telephones You had your breakfast in bed before But you won’t have it there any more This is the Army, Mister Green We like the barracks nice and clean You had a housemaid to clean your floor But she won’t help you out any more Do what the buglers command They’re in the Army and not in a band This is the Army, Mister Brown You and your baby went to town She had you worried but this is war And she won’t worry you anymore This is the Army, Mister Jones No private rooms or telephones You had your breakfast in bed before But you won’t have it there any more This is the Army, Mister Jones (audience applauds) They say that in the Army the chow is mighty fine They say that in the Army the chow is mighty fine A chicken jumped off the table and started marking time A chicken jumped off the table and started marking time Oh Lord, I wanna go Oh Lord, I wanna go But they won’t let me go But they won’t let me go Hey
Yep, Army life is something else. Let’s start with the food. They say that in the Army the biscuits aren’t so fine One rolled off the table and killed a friend of mine Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home
Hey I got another one for ya! They say that in the Army, the coffee’s mighty fine It’s good for cuts and bruises and tastes like iodine Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home
Hey, speaking of breakfast. They say that in the Army, the pancakes are so fine Now you can try and chew ’em, but you’re only wasting time Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home They say that in the Army, the meat is mighty fine Last night we had 10 puppies, this morning only nine Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home
With the decrepit chow, oh yeah!
You wanna talk about pay and benefits? Tell ’em guys! They say that in the Army, the pay is mighty fine They give you a hundred dollars and take back 99 Oh Lord, I wanna go, but they won’t let me go They say that in the Army, the mail is so great Today I got a letter late, 1948 Oh Lord, I wanna go, but they won’t let me go, hey
Let me tell you about my first field training exercise. They say that in the Army, the tents are waterproof You’ll wake up in the morning And you’re floating on the roof I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home My recruiter proudly told me That I’d look in green He skipped over the part That I’d be cleaning the latrine I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home I wanna go home (audience cheers) They say that in the Army, the beds are mighty fine But how the heck would I know, I never slept in mine Oh, I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go home Oh I don’t want no more of Army life Gee Ma, I wanna go, but they won’t let me go Gee Ma, I wanna go home (audience applauds) We really need it Gee Ma, I wanna go home Oh yeah (audience cheers)
The mission of the United States Army is to deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars. Today our Army stands ready to defend our nation and our national interests by defeating any adversary any time, anywhere. Our Army is ready to win by leveraging our greatest strength, our people. The soldiers who sacrifice for our nation, are America’s best and brightest. They are infantrymen, engineers, aviators, tankers, lawyers, doctors, dentists, drivers, divers, firefighters, recruiters, drill sergeants, mechanics, musicians, chaplains, criminologists, cryptologists and even cyber ops specialists. In other words, the American soldier is in real life what many other people pretend to be when they’re playing video games. Take a look. Don’t worry, it’s gonna be great. (audience laughs) (upbeat triumphant music) (audience applauds) Next up, we’d like to feature one of our soloists. He was born on Long Island, New York, and raised in Connecticut in a musical family, where Mom played the piano and Dad played the trombone. He quickly followed in Mom’s footsteps, starting piano lessons at the age of four, and he has yet to pick up the trombone ever since his Dad said that piano gigs pay better. He went on to study music at the University of Connecticut where he earned degrees in both Organ Performance and Music Education. In 2015, he joined us here at Pershing’s Own, where he now performs as pianist with the U.S. Army Chorus. Some of his favorite memories from childhood include visits to see his grandparents on Long Island, where he fondly remembers listening to the original recording of Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra performing a classic piano work by George Gershwin. The music was inspired by a train ride from New York to Boston. Gershwin said “I was on the train “with its steely rhythms, its rattly bang, “where I found music in the very heart of the noise. “I heard it as sort of a musical kaleidoscope of America.” Ladies and gentlemen, performing George Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue”, please welcome our very own piano soloist, Staff Sergeant Dan Campolieta. (audience applauds) (“Rhapsody in Blue”) (audience cheers) Pretty good, huh? We wanna say hi to Joe’s, I’m sorry, to Staff Sergeant Dan Campolieta’s dad, his name is Joe, he’s watching in Connecticut right now. So Dad, your boy did good. (audience applauds) We also wanna say hi to Staff Sergeant Campolieta’s grandfather, Joe, who is watching on Long Island. He is a 94 year old World War II vet, and he is watching tonight. And he, your grandson did good, Joe. (audience applauds) We have another distinguished 94 year old watching the show tonight, and this one is actually here with us in the audience with his family. He’s a former member of the U.S. Army Band. He retired from the Army Band on this very field in 1973, on the same day as our former commander, Colonel Sam Loboda. He’s here with us with his family, and we want you to help us say hello to him. Please help us welcome Sergeant Major Retired, Tom Storey, give us a wave, Sergeant Major. (audience applauds) Thanks for being here. Well before we get to the next song, I think it’s time for us to check the current vote totals for the “Stars and Stripes”. So if they’ve got those numbers, they can put ’em up on the screen right now. Okay, it looks like it’s the trombones. I kinda thought it would be the tubas. I, this is embarrassing. I have a friend who may have made a small wager that the tubas were gonna win, and I feel like my friend wants the tubas, I mean it just makes sense right? The piccolos are the highest, the tubas are the lowest. So, uh yeah. All right, well my friend would love for the tubas to win, so for all the tuba fans out there, usarmyband.com/vote, go to where it says tuba and vote. If you’re a trombone voter, I’ll just let that slide. (audience laughs) But for the tuba fans, please vote tuba, and I’ll tell you what. If enough people vote tuba by the end, and the tubas win, I will join the tuba section on the stage and play the solo with them, how’s that? (audience cheers) Does anybody have a spare tuba laying around? No, okay. Next up the music of John Philip Sousa, and a march he composed for the Army Band. Because of our extensive library of Latin American music, the Army band was chosen to serve as the official musical ambassadors for the Ibero-American Exposition in Spain in 1929. The band performed in Spain for six weeks, culminating in a command performance for King Alfonso XIII, who told our then-leader and commander, Captain William Stannard that the U.S. Army Band was the best military band he had ever heard, fulfilling the original dream of General Pershing when he ordered the formation of the band only seven years before. Here is the march that Sousa composed for the Army Band, that the band performed on the deck of the Leviathan as it sailed away from New York Harbor, “La Flor de Sevilla.” (“La Flor de Sevilla”) (audience applauds) Well now you’re in for a real treat. Our special guest artist tonight was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She earned an undergraduate degree in Music Composition from East Carolina University, and a Master in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina’s School of the Arts. Shortly after, she was awarded a Kenan Scholarship at the Lincoln Center Education, and she moved to New York City. During college, her father was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and she volunteered to become his stem cell donor. This turn of events led her to the Miss America organization. She said “I had to find a way to pay for myself “to go to school, so I entered this competition, “and this organization, “and it became much more “than just the scholarship money for me. “It was also about the mentorship, leadership “and sisterhood found in the program.” She was chosen as Miss Five Burroughs at the age of 24, and went on to win Miss New York in 2018, and last September, she was crowned Miss America. It is our distinct honor to have her here with us tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen, singing “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, please welcome the reigning Miss America, Nia Franklin. (audience cheers) Summertime And the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high Oh, your daddy’s rich And your ma is good-lookin’ So hush, little baby, don’t you cry One of these mornings You’re gonna rise up singing And you’ll spread your wings And you’ll take to the sky But ’til that morning There’s nothin’ that can harm you With daddy and mammy standin’ by (audience applauds)
Wasn’t that great? (audience cheers)
Thank you. (laughs)
You’re obviously very talented in music, you have a musical background in education. When did you first know that you had musical aptitude or that you wanted to make music part of your life?
Well, I grew up singing in church. So my mom always jokes that I was singing “Amen” in the balcony at my church. So really that’s where it started for me, singing in the church choir and just being around so much love in the community that was my congregation, and that was what made me fall in love with music.
So we at the Army Band believe that music has a unique power to change the world. We use it to connect the Army and the American people. I know that you have been using music this past year to change peoples’ lives as part of your Social Impact Initiative, tell us about that.
Yeah so every title holder within the Miss America organization, whether you are Miss Five Burroughs like I was when I first started in the New York system, or whether you become to a state title holder, or whether you become Miss America, you are required to have a Social Impact Initiative and mine was advocating for the arts. So this year I have been so blessed to be able to work with organizations such as the USO and sing, that’s why I’m here tonight, and also I’ve been able to work with other music institutions such as the New York Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony, and be able to engage with them not only in some of their performance aspects, but also in the community and working with children. My hope as this year’s Miss America is to bring music to as many children as possible who are not receiving that in school. Whether that’s through the donation of performances or even musical instruments.
So yeah, that’s great! (audience applauds)
Thank you, I’m very excited.
So you mentioned, I mentioned, and we talked earlier this week about how you become a stem cell donor for your dad, that was several years ago. Can you give us an update, how’s your dad doing?
Yes, we just celebrated this past May, on my parents’ anniversary, that’s when the stem cell transplant happened, May 2nd. We celebrated six years of him being free from the disease due to the stem cell transplant. (audience cheers) (laughs) And earlier this week, I was at Duke University Hospital and we donated a piano with the help of Sing For Hope, an organization I partner with this year. We donated a grand piano in the Children’s Hospital lounge area so that we could kind of remember that experience, and it could be a way to honor it and honor the hospital, because that’s where that stem cell transplant was done. So it was a really, it was a full circle moment for me. Very emotional, and I was so happy to be able to, be able to give the gift of music from something that started out as a terrible situation, it’s turned into something that has been able to help me give back in a way that I think will be meaningful.
That’s great. (audience applauds)
Thank you.
So on December 19th, we’re all gonna be watching TV, because you’re gonna be there to help crown your successor, and at that moment your reign as Miss America 2019 will be done, but you have many things on your plate, so I’m just curious, what’s next for you after that?
Well I have so many different people I’ve met this year. So many opportunities and connections that have come through the organization and through having the title of Miss America that I really don’t know. I’m just gonna let God order my footsteps, but what I do know is that I will be continuing to tour America in a different way this time. I will continue doing music, writing music, I am a composer, and I’ve also started a project that I’m calling Compose Her. You can learn more about it at ComposeHer.org, and basically, the organization’s goal is to help women in music have a support system. Sometimes during my career as a female in this field, I don’t always feel supported, and I haven’t always felt that, especially in the college years. So my goal is to help as many young women out there feel like they have a support system when sometimes they may not feel like they do. Especially women composers, because they’re not, there aren’t that many of us. So I really want to help bridge that gap.
We’re looking forward to that.
Thank you!
Bryce! Yes, so we’re running out of time.
Okay.
I’m just gonna hit you with a real quick rapid fires and then we’re gonna be done. Famous person you always wanted to meet that you got to meet, because you’re Miss America.
Stevie Wonder.
Oh, beautiful. The crown is beautiful, do you get to keep it?
I do!
Okay, that’s good. Do you have time to sing one more?
I do.
Something patriotic maybe?
Yeah!
Ladies and gentlemen, Miss America! (audience applauds) O beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain America, America God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears America, America God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea America, America America (audience cheers)
She doesn’t just sing great, she’s pretty good at the Q and A session. Now I know why she’s Miss America. Well next up we feature a truly unique unit, which is unlike any other in our armed forces. They represent the soundtrack of the American story as they proudly carry on traditions that date back to the birth of our republic, including wearing a complete continental uniform of black tricorne hats, white wigs, waistcoats, colonial coveralls, and a distinct red regimental coat, all the while, while performing on tin hole fifes, handmade rope tension drums and single valved bugles. They are featured performers at the White House, and they have participated in every presidential inaugural parade since 1961. They’ve also entertained millions of people on the world’s biggest stages, including the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl. But tonight, they perform just for you, ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to the United States Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. (audience cheers)
[Soldier] One, two, one! (“Yankee Doodle”) (“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”) (audience cheers) Ready, march! (drumsticks clicking)
In 1968, a couple of students at London’s Imperial College decided to form a band that they called Smile. Their search for a lead singer led them to a quiet art student named Farrokh Bulsara. Bulsara, yes in the house, all right. One fan, all right. Bulsara, who was working as baggage handler at London’s Heathrow Airport felt that the band had the same taste as him, so he decided to join. They recorded four songs for a demo tape, only to find out that there were no record companies who had any interest in them. So the bass player quit, the band changed their name, and Farrokh Bulsara started to call himself Freddie Mercury. The band’s music was truly unique, but critics quickly labeled it as an over produced monstrosity, and experts in the music industry told the band that their six minute signature song was way too long, would never get played on the radio and certainly would never be a hit. Well the experts were wrong, the song got played and the band became one of the best selling acts of all time. Their 2018 feature film now stands alone as the highest grossing musical biographical film in history. Ladies and gentlemen, we now feature the U.S. Army Voices and the U.S. Army Downrange singing music from a band that was never supposed to be famous, Queen. (audience cheers) Tonight, I’m gonna have myself a real good time I feel alive And the world we’ll turn it inside out, yeah I’m floating around in ecstasy So don’t stop me now Don’t stop me ‘Cause I’m having a good time, having a good time I’m a shooting star, leaping through the sky Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity I’m a racing car, passing by like Lady Godiva I’m gonna go, go, go There’s no stopping me I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah Two hundred degrees That’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit I’m traveling at the speed of light I’m gonna make a supersonic man out of you Don’t stop me now I’m having such a good time I’m having a ball Don’t stop me now If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call Don’t stop me now ‘Cause I’m having a good time Don’t stop me now Yes, I’m having a good time I don’t wanna stop at all, yeah Don’t stop me, don’t stop me, don’t stop me Hey, hey, hey Don’t stop me, don’t stop me, ooh, ooh, ooh I like it Don’t stop me, don’t stop me Have a good time, good time Don’t stop me, don’t stop me, whoa Don’t stop me now I’m having such a good time I’m having a ball Don’t stop me now If you wanna have a good time Just give me a call Don’t stop me now ‘Cause I’m having a good time Don’t stop me now Yes, I’m having a good time I don’t wanna stop at all (audience cheers) This thing called love I just can’t handle it This thing called love I must get ’round to it, I ain’t ready Crazy little thing called love This thing This thing Called love Called love It cries Like a baby In a cradle all night It swings Woo, woo It jives Woo, woo It shakes all over like a jelly fish, I kinda like it Crazy little thing called love There goes my baby She knows how to rock ‘n roll She’s driving me crazy She gives me hot and cold fever Then leaves me with a cool, cool sweat I gotta be cool, relax, get hip And get on my tracks Take a back seat, hitch-hike And take a long ride on my motorbike until I’m ready Crazy little thing called love Crazy little thing called love Crazy little thing called love Crazy little thing called love Crazy little thing called love Can anybody Find me Somebody to love Ooh, each morning I get up I die a little Can barely stand on my feet Take a look at yourself in the mirror and cry Lord what you’re doing to me I have spent all my years in believing you But I just can’t get no relief, Lord Somebody Somebody Ooh, somebody Somebody Can anybody find me somebody to love I word hard She works hard Every day of my life I work ’til I ache in my bones At the end At the end of the day I take home my hard-earned pay all on my own I get down on my knees and I start to pray ‘Til the tears run down from my eyes, Lord Somebody Somebody Ooh, somebody Somebody Can anybody find me somebody to love She works hard Everyday Everyday I try and I try and I try But everybody wants to put me down They say I’m goin’ crazy They say I got a lot of water in my brain No, I got no common sense I got nobody left to believe Oh Lord Somebody Somebody Ooh, somebody Somebody Can anybody find me Somebody to love Can anybody Find me someone to love Got no feel, I got no rhythm I just keep losing my beat You just keep losing and losing I’m okay, I’m alright She’s alright, she’s alright I ain’t gonna face no defeat I just gotta get out of this prison cell Someday I’m gonna be free, Lord Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love To love, love, love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody Find me somebody, find me somebody to love Can anybody find me Somebody to love Find me somebody to love Ooh somebody Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Find me somebody to love Oh, find me, find me, find me (audience cheers) I see a little silhouetto of a man Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo Figaro magnifico But I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me He’s just a poor boy from a poor family Spare him his life from this monstrosity Easy come, easy go, will you let me go Bismillah, no, we will not let you go Let him go Bismillah, we will not let you go Let him go Bismillah, we will not let you go Let me go Will not let you go Let me go Will not let you go Let me go No, no, no, no, no, no, no Oh mamma mia, mamma mia Mamma mia, let me go Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me For me, for me So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye So you think you can love me and leave me to die Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here Ooh Ooh yeah, ooh yeah Nothing really matters, anyone can see Nothing really matters Nothing really matters to me Any way the wind blows (audience cheers) (“Hope”)
The soldiers you see before you on stage tonight represent all of the men and women of our Army, including more than 185,000 soldiers serving in over 140 countries across the globe at this very hour. Continuing the common thread of selfless service, welcome to the tapestry of our American Army for more than 244 years. The spirit of self-sacrifice that began with the birth of our republic is alive and well today in the men and women who voluntarily raise their hand and take an oath to protect and defend against all enemies. As we gather here tonight, we remember our American soldiers deployed around the world, charged with a solemn pledge to defend the defenseless. Our Army is a beacon of hope for countless thousands standing strong in the face of tyranny and oppression while giving purpose to Americans who are looking for a way to make a difference. As soldiers, they have become part of something greater than themselves, committing their lives to fulfill one simple promise: that when the dark comes crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you, when you’re broken on the ground, you will be found. Have you ever felt like nobody was there Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere Have you ever felt like you could disappear Like you could fall, and no one would hear Well, let that lonely feeling wash away Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be okay ‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand You can reach, reach out your hand And oh, someone will come running And I know, they’ll take you home Even when the dark comes crashing through When you need a friend to carry you And when you’re broken on the ground You will be found So let the sun come streaming in ‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again Lift your head and look around You will be found You will be found You will be found You will be found You will be found There’s a place where we don’t have to feel unknown And every time that you call out You’re a little less alone If you only say the word From across the silence Your voice is heard Oh, someone will come running Oh, oh To take you home To take you home Someone will come running To take you home To take you hone Even when the dark comes crashing through When you need a friend to carry you When you’re broken on the ground You will be found So let the sun come streaming in ‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again If you only look around You will be found You will be found You will be found You will be found Out of the shadows The morning is breaking And all is new, all is new It’s filling up the empty And suddenly I see that All is new, all is new You are not alone You are not alone You are not alone You are not alone You are not alone You are not alone You are not alone You are not You are not alone Even when the dark comes crashin’ through When you need someone to carry you When you’re broken on the ground You will be found So let the sun come streaming in ‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again If you only look around You will be found Even when the dark comes crashin’ through You will be found When you need someone to carry you You will be found You will be found You will be found You will be found (audience applauds)
General and Mrs. Martin, Major General and Mrs. Jones, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us tonight, for sticking with us through the weather tonight. As you can imagine there are far more people involved in tonight’s program than you see sitting up here on stage, and it would be an injustice if we didn’t recognize them. Many thanks to Colonel Kim Peeples and her amazing team here at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. (audience applauds) The public fairs, protocol, ceremonies and special events staffs at Military District of Washington, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command for the support they provide us all year. Army Video for the great camerawork and for doing the production management of our live stream. They’re the ones responsible for all the great camerawork you’re seeing. Miss Nia Franklin and the Miss America team and Miss Pauline Sumner and the USO, and of course Colonel Jim Tuite and our incredible teammates from the 30th United States Regiment, the Old Guard. You saw them with the Fife and Drum Corps. And the Presidential Salute Battery. (audience applauds) Both of which come from the 4th Battalion lead by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Lamborn. And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our hidden soloists, our technical support team, the audio video technical support crews and our public affairs. They are all incredible examples. (audience applauds) They are all incredible examples of the character, competence and commitment that you find in every corner of our Army, and we could not have done this, performed this event for you this evening without their help. Would you please help me thank them with another round of applause? (audience applauds) And now ladies and gentlemen, we would like to thank all of you who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces so veterans, active duty members, family and friends, we invite all of you to stand and be recognized when you hear your service song played, because this is your armed forces salute.
[Announcer] The United States Coast Guard. We’re always ready for the call We place our trust in thee Through surf and storm and howling gale High shall our purpose be Semper Paratus is our guide Our fame, our glory, too To fight to save or fight and die Aye, Coast Guard, we are for you
[Announcer] The United States Air Force. Off we go into the wild blue yonder Climbing high into the sun Here they come zooming to meet our thunder At ’em boys, give ‘er the gun Give ‘er the gun Down we dive, spouting our flame from under Off with one helluva roar We live in fame or go down in flame, hey Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force
[Announcer] The United States Navy! Anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh! Farewell to foreign shores We sail at break of day Through our last night ashore, drink to the foam Until we meet once more Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home
[Announcer] The United States Marine Corps! From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land, and sea First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean We are proud to claim the title Of Untied States Marine
[Announcer] Your United States Army! First to fight for the right And to build the nation’s might And the Army goes rolling along Proud of all we have done Fighting till the battle’s won And the Army goes rolling along Then it’s hi, hi, hey The Army’s on its way Count off the cadence loud and strong For where e’er we go You will always know That the Army goes rolling along (audience cheers)
Thank you for your service. The “1812 Overture” was written in 1880 by Russian Composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Russia’s defense of the motherland against Napoleon’s invading Grand Army. Despite the popularity of the overture, Tchaikovsky himself was never satisfied with the final product. With its volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes and brass fanfares, he worried that the music was just too loud and just too noisy. But here at the Army Band, we like to end the summer with a bang, and we think Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is just the perfect soundtrack to accompany the firing of four World War II vintage 75 millimeter anti-tank guns. Ladies and gentlemen, featuring the 3rd U.S. Infantry’s Presidential Salute Battery, here is Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s immortal “Overture 1812”. (audience cheers) (singing in foreign language) (“1812 Overture”) (cannon fire echoes) (signing in foreign language) (cannon fire echoes) (singing in foreign language) (cannon fire echoes) (singing in foreign language) (cannon fire echoes) (singing in foreign language) (cannon fire echoes) (audience cheers) Thank you, a special thank you to two individuals, Sergeant Major Greg Lowery, 30 years of service, his last performance was on this stage tonight. Sergeant Major Mike Cano has been doing this show for 30 years, this is his last performance on 1812. Please give them a round of applause. (audience applauds) All right, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. We’re gonna find out the vote talley and see who’s won. Put it up on the screen. (audience cheers) Tubas! Pay up Brannigan! All right, I’m gonna go find a tuba. Here we go, kick it off there, sir. (“Stars and Stripes Forever”) Hurrah for the flag of the free May it wave as our standard forever The gem of the land and the sea The banner of the right Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever (audience cheers) Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever The gem of the land and the sea The banner of the right Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever, hey (audience cheers)