Command pays tribute to veterans at annual concert
U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) recognized the sacrifices of veterans from “yesterday, today and tomorrow” at its 14th annual “Salute to Veterans” concert Nov. 6 at Norfolk's Chrysler Hall.
By MC2 (AW) Nikki Carter
USJFCOM Public Affairs
(NORFOLK, Va. – Nov. 9, 2008) -– U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) recognized the sacrifices of veterans from “yesterday, today and tomorrow” at its 14th annual “Salute to Veterans” concert Friday night at Chrysler Hall.
More than 1,800 concertgoers packed the concert hall to pay homage to our service members through the sounds of music performed by military musicians. The concert serves as part of the command’s recognition of local community support in advance of Veterans Day.
The theme of the event, “Defenders of Freedom,” honored the service and sacrifice of veterans past and present.
Air Force Maj. Gen. David M. Edgington, USJFCOM chief of staff, opened the concert by welcoming veterans, service members, guests and future brothers and sisters-in-arms.
“We at Joint Forces Command are extremely proud and extremely grateful of those who are in harm's way tonight as we pause to enjoy some music and pay tribute to those veterans who have served and are serving right now,” Edgington said.
Among the many veterans attending the performance was the evening’s honored guest, retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Grant S. Williams Sr., one of the original Tuskegee Airman.
He offered words of encouragement to the men and women serving in uniform today.
“I tell the young people not to let anybody tell them that they can't be something or be somebody. If they put their mind to it and stick to their guns and follow through with whatever they do and do it to the best of their ability then they can do anything,” Williams said.
Edgington also conducted the oath of enlistment, welcoming the military’s newest recruits in front of the capacity crowd.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ashley Haley, a USJFCOM intelligence specialist who participated in the pre-performance ceremony with Edgington and Williams, said this was an opportunity to show her gratitude to veterans.
“I'm honored to be here to celebrate the sacrifices of the veterans of the past and my peers who have given their lives and their dedication for our freedom,” she said.
This year’s performance featured a combined military band made up of 54 select members from the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Band, Fort Monroe; U.S. Fleet Forces Band, Norfolk; U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, Langley Air Force Base; Marine Detachment, Armed Forces School of Music, Little Creek; and the New London, Conn.-based U.S. Coast Guard Band.
Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Richard Wyman, Coast Guard Band conductor, felt honored to pay tribute to military veterans.
“It's a wonderful way to bring together the different services and present a joint event to honor the service of our men and women,” said Wyman, who was performing at his second Salute to Veterans concert. “To me, what better way to do that then through music. It instills patriotism in everyone while finding ways to feel good about what everybody's done. It brings the community together to celebrate that in a special way.”
Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Robert Jacob, a conductor with Marine Detachment, Armed Forces School of Music, said events like Salute to Veterans bring Americans together as a family.
“It's important to show the non-military people who we are, bring them into our family show them [the military is] not something mysterious, that we are human beings and we like to have a good time and respect our fellow countrymen,” Jacob said.
A joint color guard, with members from all military services, performed honors during the concert, and local WVEC-TV 13 television reporter Joe Flanagan was the master of ceremonies.
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