AMC bandsmen perform at Ford funeral Published Jan. 9, 2007 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Nearly 4,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members supported the state funeral for former President Gerald R. Ford Jan 3. Two musicians from the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America were among them. Master Sgt. Dean Smith, a Mascoutah, Ill. native, and Staff Sgt. David Hartung were both on leave when they received the call; they were on their way within 24 hours to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. There they joined members of the USAF Band of Flight and the USAF Band of Liberty. Each state funeral, despite many similarities, is unique, reflecting the personal wishes of the individual president and his family. While the sequence of events and participants involved are all carefully planned in advance, a great deal of professionalism and last minute flexibility and practice is essential to a flawless performance. For its part, the Band of Flight was tasked to perform honors for the arrival of Air Force One in Grand Rapids, Mich. and for the arrival and departure of the casket at the Grace Episcopal Church on the final day's private funeral service. Sergeants Smith and Hartung had one morning at Wright-Patterson to coordinate numerous details before departing for Grand Rapids. Once there, they spent Dec. 31 rehearsing at a local gym with all the involved units in order to get everyone on the same page. The next day was spent outside in 28 degree, windy, wet weather both at the airport and at the church in more rehearsals. Flexibility came to the fore on Jan 2 as the band was put in a holding pattern for the arrival of the plane carrying President Ford. His wish was for the University of Michigan band to play the arrival ceremony, but they were in California for the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. They arrived just one hour before the ceremony. Though the Air Force band did not play, they were essential to the preparation of the remaining participants. They spent the afternoon in more rehearsal. Wednesday brought an early departure, security screening and very long periods of time standing in formation in very cold weather, but when the moment came they were ready. As Sergeant Smith noted, they, and everyone else, had rehearsed so many times that "you knew there would be no mistakes." While they were one small cog in the big wheel of events, their participation was no small event for them. From the beginning it was all about serious focus on attention to detail and teamwork. Sergeant Smith was impressed with how well and quickly the musicians from the three bands became one, as well as the tight integration between the services. "The attitude was great." He also has a unique distinction. This was the second time he has played for a state funeral, having participated in the ceremonies for former President Reagan in June 2004. He considers both as highly memorable and special events in his 17-year career. Sergeant Hartung said the most striking memory for him was at the church, the surreal feeling of such an important event taking place at such a small church in a very common community. It was his view of the church parking lot with the church bus parked next to the presidential limousine that best captured the dichotomy of the setting. But it was a fitting finale to the six official days of mourning; those seemingly disparate images truly represent the man who was our 38th president.