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Historical Performance in Time-honored Tradition

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Joe Jackson
  • The U.S. Air Force Band
NEW YORK --  The U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard celebrated Thanksgiving with an appearance at the 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® in New York City.

The parade, seen by 45 million viewers including 3.5 million in attendance along the parade route, presented the 200-strong group an international stage from which to highlight their precision drill and spectacular patriotic musical fare.

Following weeks of painstaking planning, preparation and rehearsal, The Band and Honor Guard arrived in New York Wednesday only to rise at 2 a.m. the following morning for the television rehearsal at Herald Square. After the rehearsal and a quick breakfast, The Band and Honor Guard boarded their nine-bus caravan to be dropped off near the beginning of the parade route on the upper west side of Manhattan.

The largest combined ceremonial band/honor guard unit ever deployed by The U.S. Air Force slowly advanced in the pre-parade que, and then lined up for the parade start just behind the helium-filled Spider Man. And with a cue from drum major Chief Master Sergeant Ed Teleky's ceremonial mace, the group stepped off by alternating between two of America's favorite patriotic marches, Washington Post and Trombones Triumphant.

After the completion of the 2.6-mile parade route through a throng of cheering and adoring parade observers, The Band, Honor Guard and members of The Honor Guard Drill Team lined up to perform a breathtaking drill routine, created by Master Sgt. Kent Baker, and marched to his arrangement of "This Is My Country."

Baker was ecstatic about the unit's performance. "These incredible musicians and Airmen work incredibly hard every day, providing funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring military retirees, supporting high ranking military and government officials, and providing patriotic music for national events. For The Band and Honor Guard to be able to produce such a complex drill routine with such limited rehearsal time and execute it with such aplomb speaks volumes for their abilities and dedication."

This is the first time The U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard have marched in this parade, the largest parade in New York City. Macy's Department Store first began sponsoring the parade in 1924. The tradition has continued every year except from 1942 to 1944 when the store donated rubber from the balloons to the war effort.

Augmenting The Honor Guard and members of The Air Force Band were musicians from Air Force regional bands at Langley, Robins, Travis and Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases, as well as musicians from the Air National Guard. These incredibly talented players were able to travel to Washington and quickly assimilate the music and drill routines, and add their own virtuosity to the musical and visual impact.

The Commander of the 11th Operations Group, Col. Gina Humble was on hand for this historic event. "We are proud to participate in this time-honored tradition. The precision and excellence they demonstrate is a reflection of the high standards, integrity and dedication of all Airmen serving today."