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USAF Band of Flight and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Celebrate 60 Years of Air and Space Power

  • Published
  • By SSgt David Diamond
  • USAF Band of Flight
Dayton, Ohio --  Sixty years ago, the United States Air Force began its service as an independent branch of our nation's armed forces. In celebration of the Air Force's 60th anniversary, the USAF Band of Flight and the Dayton Philharmonic, led by commander/conductor Lieutenant Colonel Alan Sierichs and maestro Neal Gittleman, present a joint concert on Saturday, September 8th at 7:30PM in the Modern Flight Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The program pays tribute to the heritage and future of the Air Force and our country. Join us for this one-of-a-kind event!

Glen Miller's music celebrates the Air Force's roots in the Army Air Corps of World War II, as does the Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. Barber, one of the greatest American orchestral composers, served in the Air Corps during the war. Another former Air Force composer, John Williams, provides a touching look back at this era with Hymn to the Fallen, from Williams' score to the movie Saving Private Ryan.

Military aviation began well before World War II however, and The Aviators, a march by the great John Philip Sousa, honors America's World War I flyers. Peter Tchaikowski's 1812 Overture recalls an important early victory for our country, while Jim Beckel's Liberty for All captures the patriotism of everyday life in the United States. The present-day Air Force is celebrated in Julie Giroux's An Airman's Symphony, commissioned by the Air Force for its 60th anniversary year.

We'll see you there! Although the concert is free, tickets are required due to limited seating, and demand is high. Beginning Aug. 8, tickets can be obtained at the museum from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The limit is four tickets per person. Tickets will not be available Aug. 31 or Sept. 3 due to the Labor Day holiday.

Those who call or e-mail their name, phone number, address and number of tickets may have tickets mailed to them from Aug. 8 through Aug. 30. To request tickets, please call (937) 255-8046, ext. 495, or e-mail danielle.almeter@wpafb.af.mil