Fifer Spc. Allison Wollam, and drummer Staff Sgt. Adam Walton, both of the 77th Army Band, march in a neighborhood parade July 4, 2021, at Fort Sill. The procession continued to McNair Hall for the post's Independence Day celebration.

Sgt. 1st Class Landon Holt narrates the Independence Day ceremony July 4, 2021, outside McNair Hall. Holt, a 77th Army Bandsman, is detailed to the Fort Sill Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security for the summer.

Uncle Sam (Mike Dooley, Field Artillery School deputy commandant) watches as each state in the union is recognized with cannon fire during Fort Sill's Independence Day celebration July 4, 2021.

Soldiers with B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery fire 105mm howitzers during the July 4, 2021, celebration at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. They fired howitzers in synch with the "1812 Overture" performed by the 77th Army Band. Later, the "Salute Battery" fired a round in honor of each state of the union.

The 77th Army Band conducted by Warrant Officer Richard Townes, center, performs Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" accompanied with cannon fire by B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery "Salute Battery" July 4, 2021, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Babies were lifted and people cheered and livestreamed when Oklahoma, the 46th state, was introduced during Fort Sill's Independence Day celebration July 4, 2021, outside McNair Hall.

FORT SILL, Oklahoma (July 7, 2021) -- The 77th Army Band performing the “1812 Overture” with accompanying cannon fire from B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery “Salute Battery” highlighted Fort Sill’s Independence Day celebration.

Hundreds of people from the Lawton Fort Sill community viewed the performance July 4, at noon outside McNair Hall. The 20-minute ceremony was also livestreamed.

As a prelude to the observance, Uncle Sam (Mike Dooley, Field Artillery School deputy commandant) led a neighborhood parade from Academic Heights to McNair Hall. Dozens of post residents, including many children dressed in red, white, and blue, participated along with firetrucks from the Directorate of Emergency Services.

Sgt. 1st Class Landon Holt, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security operations noncommissioned officer, provided narration for the event.

“Two-hundred and forty-five years ago in that now famous year of 1776, 56 men of courage and vision created our birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence.

“In doing so, they established a nation dedicated to the principles of human rights and the spirit of liberty. Many of the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence were not really new; they reflected concepts of social and political justice held by numerous philosophers of the time.

“New or not, those ideas were so eloquently expressed by Thomas Jefferson, that they stirred the hearts of our forefathers in their fight for freedom. Since then, the words of the Declaration of Independence, have continuously, inspired freedom‑loving people throughout the world.

“Those 56 individuals in Philadelphia knew the penalty for high treason when they placed their signatures on that document. They would surely face death, but America's first patriots were committed to an ideal to which they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

“In declaring independence, the colonies made a historic and heroic claim to freedom from the absolute power of the British crown.”

Holt then told the history of the “1812 Overture.”

It was commissioned in 1880, for inclusion in the Russian exhibition of 1882, Holt said. Pyotr Tchaikovsky, was selected to commemorate the event, and decided to use music that would stir feelings of patriotism. It was intended to be performed outdoors, as a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Russia’s defeat of Napoleon’s troops.

“The ‘1812 Overture’ has become an American tradition, tied to freedom. It was first celebrated with the opening of Carnegie Hall, in New York in 1891, and later conducted by Arthur Fiedler, long-time conductor of the Boston Pops orchestra, in 1974. The ‘1812 Overture’ has become synonymous with American Independence Day celebrations across the country.”

Following the performance, each state was introduced in order of its entrance into the union. Audience members were encouraged to cheer for their respective states. The “Salute Battery” fired a 105mm round for each state.

Holt’s roll call began with Delaware, “The First State," Dec. 7, 1787.

When the 46th state, Oklahoma, “the Sooner State,” Nov. 16, 1907, was announced, the crowd let out cheers and hollers.

And, “The Aloha State,” Hawaii, Aug. 21, 1959, was the last state honored.

The ceremony ended with the band performing John Phillip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”