Orlando, Fl.- The 3rd Infantry Division Band from Fort Stewart, Georgia performed for various audiences throughout Florida, Jan. 5-10.
This outreach tour exposed civilian audiences of various ages to the Army and to their unique sound, which included anthems and popular songs. The band traveled to several venues including Orlando, Gainesville, Longwood, Holly Hills and Tampa.
“The trip we did down here to Florida was a combination of both community relations and Army recruiting,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Krzmarzick, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division Band.
The band performed for both the opening ceremony and ball (the closing event) for the 2023 Student Veterans of America National Conference, which took place at Disney Coronado Springs. Performance teams within the band performed for several Florida high schools and gave students information about the Army and being in the band.
“The students reacted really, really well,” said Spc. Akira Okamoto, a trumpet player in the 3rd ID Band’s Dogface Brass Band. “They participated and danced with us. It was a really great time.”
The 3rd ID Band played for large audiences at the Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs Men’s Basketball Game, Pictona at Holly Hills and an outdoor stage at Disney Springs. Many Veterans from the local community attended the performance at Pictona including a Dogface Veteran named Gilles Blais.
The outreach tour concluded with a parade through Universal Orlando. The Soldiers represented the 3rd ID and the Army in front of many civilians.
“We got to perform for a wide variety of audiences that may have never seen a service member, let alone an Army Bandsman, so we relate ourselves as ambassadors to the civilian sector,” said Krzmarzick. “The Army is full of world-class musicians and being able to perform at a world-class stage like Disney Springs or Universal is a highlight for us.”
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