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To all my fellow veterans and tuba players.

This coming Monday is the traditional day to recognize and pay tribute to our fellow veterans
whom have died in service to their country as well as those veterans, who have served and
have since died serving there communities. It also has become the defacto opening weekend
of a summer, full of BBQ's, brats, burgers and beer. Before we breakout the beach chairs....

Let's all take a moment on Monday, to remember the person you know in your life,
whom has served in the military. Be grateful to those whom scarficed their own lives,
allowing us to enjoy our everyday freedom's.

If you have an opportunity to play for Memorial Day services, please do, and report back,
letting us know where and what patriotic tunes you played.

Thank you to all my fellow veterans, Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines and our Coast Guard for your
past and current service. " I myself am a retired Navy Veteran, "Still Serving America"

David Johnson
Tundratubast

We have a federal cemetery in the metro area where I live. Among its other distinctions is that it has interred at least one veteran from every American war including Independence (one reinterment as the family moved west) and both Union and Confederate graves (the stone wall of separation having been removed a couple of generations ago). Every year I play tuba for the band that plays for the observances. We get to set up in a large elevated stone gazebo with a flat interior plaster roof. I've played various tubas and sousaphones there over the years, and for an outdoor venue, a standard bell-up 4/4 tuba does the best.

In addition to Memorial day, over the last few years, until all the regional WWII veterans who wanted to go went to memorial in Washington, DC, I played in the band that was part of the coming home reception every time a flight took off and returned at the regional airport.

Yes, I do play. As often as I can. I have many relatives and ancestors who served in the various military branches. But because when I was 18 not only had the draft ended, but I was an only surviving son, and had other health issues, I was deferred. So in this context I live by the statement that not all are called to wear a uniform, but all are called to support those who do.

iiipopes wrote: So in this context I live by the statement that not all are called to wear a uniform, but all are called to support those who do.

This sums up my sentiments better than I ever could, thank you. The entire time I was growing up I had planned to go military right after high school, then I discovered music, and band in particular, so I planned to go into military music. However, shortly after I graduated high school I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes so I was unable to serve.

Thank you to all who have served for your sacrifices!

My band, The Henrico Concert Band, will be playing on Monday at 2:00 in Sandston, VA.
Our play list is as follows :
Star Spangled Banner
South Pacific
Man of La Mancha
An Unending Legacy - Written as a tribute to teachers
Chimes of Liberty
March from 1941
Let Freedom Ring
Amazing Grace/Taps
Home of the Brave
Military Escort March

We had a nice crowd to hear us play today. Weather was nice with and we were under a tent with a cool breeze so all was going along fine. As I mentioned before we did Amazing Grace with an arrangement of Taps that included only the brass as a back up accompaniment to the trumpet playing taps. We must have played well as it struck something in our director and he was emotionally moved and had to collect himself when we finished playing .
Our conductor is a Marine and a Vietnam veteran who has seen more than some of us could ever imagine.


Simper Fi, Randy... Semper Fi . Thanks for your service.

bloke wrote:thousands and thousands of pounds of balls...

My father-in-law was early on the beach in the Bougainville campaign. Had it not been for the men of 666 my wife might never have existed. We can never repay our indebtedness!

The Oregon Tuba Ensemble played in Creswell (pop.5000) for the VFW Memorial Day celebration. Probably 50 folks braved the wind and rain to honor those who gave all.