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Air Force Band Wraps Up Summer Concert Series

  • Published
  • By Eric Ritter
The United States Air Force band wrapped up its Summer Concert Series at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Sept. 2.

The Band put on a total of 64 concerts between Memorial Day and Labor Day at five primary locations throughout the National Capital Region which were: The Air Force Memorial, The U.S. Capitol steps, National Harbor and the Smithsonian's Air and Space and American History Museums. The events featured The Concert Band, The Singing Sergeants, The Airmen of Note, The Symphony Orchestra and the Strolling Strings. Max Impact, the Band's rock ensemble, which normally is included in the Summer Concert Series, was unable to participate because they were deployed overseas. However, they did put on 53 performances for about 17,100 coalition troops and international audiences in that 90-day deployment.

According to the Commander of the Air Force Band, Col. Larry Lang, the Band was able to entertain and be good military ambassadors to tens of thousands of people throughout the summer series.

"We reached about 49,000 people over the summer," Lang said. "Each of our local summer venues all had enthusiastic audiences that loved seeing the Band perform."
Lang said due to the popularity of the series at the Air Force Memorial, next year will offer some exciting new additions to the venue.

"One change we are excited about for the Air Force Memorial concerts is the Under Secretary of the Air Force will be hosting an Air Force Heritage Series once a month that will include a flyover, performances from several groups [instead of just one], a special guest speaker and the United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team," Lang said. "Those will begin in May and take place once a month through September."

The Air Force Band will continue to play for the public throughout the year at events such as potential "flash mobs" and other holiday performances. The Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Facebook page as well as the band's page will have updated information as it becomes available.