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USAF Band of the Golden West performs for Armed Forces Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West packed their instruments and headed south from Travis to Torrance, Calif. to play in the 53rd Annual City of Torrance Armed Forces Day Celebration May 17. Band members from the USAF Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. joined the band for the weekend.

Friday, the concert band played at the James Armstrong Theater. They played a variety of music including works by Shostakovich, a Russian composer, Julie Giroux's Italian Rhapsody and a tribute to the Armed Forces by playing a medley of each branch's song.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, along with other dignitaries, were in attendance to the weekend's events. By the time the band neared the end of the concert they had the audience on their feet clapping and cheering to Washington Post and Stars and Stripes.

"It was such an honor to play for such dignitaries such as secretary of the Air Force," said Capt. Haley Armstrong, USAF Band of the Golden West commander and conductor. "There is so much tradition, the entire city gets involved. I've never been to an event where there was so much support for the Armed Forces."

Saturday, the band had the whole crowd cheering again as they marched in a parade down Torrance Boulevard. The Band of the Golden West the Air Force song as spectators cheered, "Go Air Force".

Following the parade, the rock band headed to the Del Amo Fashion Center where military exhibits were on display including aircraft, vehicles and support equipment. All branches of the armed services were also in attendance. The rock band played a variety of music from country to jazz and rock. They showed off the Band of the Golden West's talent by showing the community that being in an Air Force band didn't just mean playing in concert band or marching in parades. They could sing, dance and, with their variety of talents, they had the crowd singing along to their catchy tunes.

Later that the evening, the band's Jazz Ensemble played at the VIP Banquet hosted by the city. Again, the secretary of the Air Force and other branches' dignitaries were in attendance.

Staff Sgt. Geoff Fisher and Senior Airman Megan Hokaj, Band of the Golden West vocalists, started the evening by singing the National Anthem followed by Airman 1st Class Stephen Denison, Band of the Golden West trumpet player, playing Taps during a moment of silence as the room honored prisoners of war and fallen soldiers. The Jazz Ensemble concluded the evening by playing light, contemporary music for dinner.

The band headed home Sunday to prepare for a full summer of parades and concerts.

"It's a great band to play with," said Master Sgt. Kirsten Tenwolde, U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, French horn player. "They sound great and they're fun to be with. I look forward to playing with them again soon."