Band of the Northeast members help kick off Air Force 70th Anniversary Published Jan. 17, 2017 By SSgt Jeremy Carles ANG Band of the Northeast ANNVILLE, PA -- Recently, several members of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast descended on Southern California to march in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade to help commemorate the Air Force's 70th anniversary. As part of the Air Force Total Force Band, which consisted of 104 instrumentalists from the Air Force's 13 active duty and Air National Guard bands; Airmen from the Band of the Northeast helped promote the Air Force mission and heritage throughout the week-long tour. Five days of rehearsals and performances culminated in a 6-mile trek down pristine Pasadena streets on a brisk Monday morning. Broadcast to more than 50 million people annually, the historic Tournament of Roses Parade is one of the world's most famous spectacles. "The parade was tiring yet very rewarding," said Master Sergeant Brian Stike. "There were hundreds of thousands of people along the entire route. They were a very appreciative audience, nearly everyone stood for our band as we marched by. It was an honor to represent the men and women of the United States Air Force to not only those along the route, but also to the millions watching on TV from a global audience." Following three days of intense rehearsal, the Total Force Band hit the road, making several appearances in the days leading up to the Rose Parade. The band performed a field show at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, an exhibition which featured all of the bands participating in the Rose Parade. The musicians overcame adverse conditions and performed their show flawlessly during a torrential rainfall. On January 1, the band rang in the New Year by performing a parade and retreat ceremony at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The retreat ceremony honored men and women of all of our Armed Services and featured musical selections performed by the Total Force Band, accompanied by professional Disneyland vocalists. For the members of the band, the trip was an experience of a lifetime. "It was awesome," Senior Airman Katie Connelly said. "It was great seeing old friends and making new connections. It was one of the best Air Force experiences I've had so far." Technical Sergeant Clay Sattazahn noted that "the entire mission was incredibly well organized. The indoor rehearsals were professional and efficient. I will certainly have many fond memories." The 11 members of the Band of the Northeast who were selected to participate in the event included: - MSgt Brian Stike (Trumpet) - MSgt Andrew Callo (Clarinet) - MSgt Richard Fitz (Percussion) - TSgt Clay Sattazahn (Trombone) - TSgt Jeremy Buss (French Horn) - TSgt Myron Charowsky (Saxophone) - SSgt Michael Kane (French Horn) - SSgt Jermaine Smalls (Saxophone) - SrA Alison Long (Clarinet) - SrA Monica Littlefield (Piccolo) - SrA Katie Connelly (Piccolo)