JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. (Aug. 28, 2014) -- A U.S. Army Band rookie with a multi-cultural family tree has snagged a rare Spirit of America speaking part.
Staff Sgt. Sonia Candelaria, a Pershing's Own ceremonial band piccoloist and 28-year-old native of Alamogordo, N.M., has been chosen to recite a Spirit of America monologue and plans on turning her first-ever SOA into a unique life experience.
The new band member, who has been on the job since February, is the perfect fit for the speaking role. Candelaria, whose mother is Korean and whose dad-a 23-year Air Force veteran-is Hispanic, will portray a Korean-American Soldier.
"I was originally going to be part of the TUSAB floor band at SOA playing the piccolo," she said. "They asked me if I wanted to do this; they needed somebody to play this role. I'm part of the Korean War scene."
According to Candelaria, she is the lone TUSAB member with a speaking part in this season's Spirit of America shows. With weeks now turning into days before her SOA debut, there are no nerves and there will be no cue cards or teleprompter - she will have her lines memorized by showtime.
"I stand up on a box, say a few lines, which is very different because I'm a trained musician, but I would say I'm fairly comfortable speaking in front of people and audiences," she said. "I've done it before but not in this sort of capacity, but to get up and speak some lines is a very new thing for me to do. It is kind of exciting."
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