FORT McPHERSON, Ga. (Aug. 20, 2009) - Several hundred people from south metro Atlanta braved threatening skies and muggy weather Aug. 20 to attend the Army Ground Forces Band's free, open-air concert in Peachtree City.
U.S. Army Forces Command's premier national touring band rewarded those hearty citizens' efforts with a thunderous evening of rousing patriotic music at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, more fondly known as "The Fred" by Atlanta's music lovers.
A large group of veterans and currently serving Armed Forces members who attended helped add to the evening's patriotic spirit.
David Motley, an Air Force veteran who lives in Peachtree City and a self-proclaimed Army Ground Forces Band fan, said he loves the band and has been to several of its concerts.
The concert's theme was "To the Colors," and it included pieces by John Philip Sousa, George M.
Cohan, Dudley Buck and Paul Whear and a narration to musical accompaniment by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler of Julie Giroux's "The Fort McHenry Suite." Spc. Eric Villalobos provided the vocals for Alfred Reed's "The Pledge of Allegiance."
"I especially enjoyed hearing Sousa's 'Under the American Flag' done in its entirety. . . (a) rare
occurrence in these PC times!" noted Perry Peek of Sharpsburg, Ga. The crowd joined in with clapping, during the band's rendition of the Sousa melody "Under the American Flag."
The band's Master Sgt. Dave Dorris introduced each number and explained the history of the piece.
The band's commander, Maj. Domingos Robinson, and the band's executive officer, 1st Lt. Curtis
Kinzey, shared the conducting duties.
The band closed the concert with "Ragged Old Flag," a piece by Frank Ticheli and Johnny Cash.
Shirley Norviel of Peachtree City thanked the band on behalf of her family for sharing its musical
talents, "We thoroughly enjoyed the program and hope you will come back soon."
For more information about the Army Ground Forces Band, including other upcoming performance
dates, please visit the Band's Web site at www.armygroundforcesband.com.
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