Air Force Bandsman wins prestigious award Published Jan. 18, 2013 By Senior Master Sgt. Joe Jackson Washington D.C. -- The men and women of The U.S. Air Force Band congratulate Technical Sgt. Luke Wedge as the recipient of the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award. The Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award acknowledges U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard enlisted musicians, and honors the memory of retired Army Colonel Finley R. Hamilton, who succumbed to cancer while serving as President of the National Band Association (NBA). Col. Hamilton served 35 years in the Army Band Program, retiring from service as the Commander and Conductor of the United States Army Field Band. This annual award captures Colonel Hamilton's dedication to the musicians of the armed forces and his tireless championing of outstanding musician leaders in service bands from all branches. The recipients of this distinguished award exhibit outstanding musical and leadership excellence. Sgt. Wedge was one of only 8 Airmen selected for this award: Senior Amn. Michelle Hooper, Band of the USAF Reserve, Robins AFB Technical Sgt. Mark Frandsen, USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB Staff Sgt. Miles Hudlow, USAF Band of the Pacific-Hawaii, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam Technical Sgt. Robert Jordan, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB Staff Sgt. Natalie Madison-Rascoe, USAF Band of the Pacific-Alaska, JB Elmendorf-Richardson Technical Sgt. Marcel Marchetti, USAF Academy Band, Peterson AFB Technical Sgt. Rickey Sweum, USAF Band of the Pacific-Japan, Yokota AB Technical Sgt. Luke Wedge - The USAF Band, JB Anacostia-Bolling The U.S. Air Force Band's commander and conductor, Col. Larry H. Lang was ecstatic as he congratulated Sgt. Wedge. "Bravo Luke! And THANK YOU for the extraordinary work you do for our Air Force each and every day." Originally from Hutchinson, Kan., Sgt. Wedge is a violinist with The Air Force Strings. His Air Force career began in 2003. Congratulations Luke!