November 17, 2006

19th Annual Veterans’ Day program presented by The Villages
Music Society strikes all the common chords

By Thom Harney
Staff Writer

Every few years or so, a Veterans’ Day Program is presented in which everything seems to come together in perfect harmony.

Earl Levin (left), director of The Villages Handbell Ensemble, gets his group warmed up prior to the 19th Annual Veterans’ Day program presented by The Villages Music Society.

Common chords are struck that are so indelible in the individual and collective memory of the audience, that the audience members become part of the performance. In short, it becomes a deeply moving performance for both the performers and the members of the audience as they transcend the mere enjoyment of the program and move into the higher realization and appreciation of what actually motivated them to attend the memorable program.

Such was the Veterans’ Program presented by the Villages Music Society on Veterans’ Day, held Nov. 11 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 4977 San Felipe Road in San Jose. A program in which the Village Voices, the Concert Band, and the Handbell Ensemble combined forces to make a truly memorable presentation in honor of our veterans on their day. 

Veterans’ Day is to honor our living veterans, it is the veterans’ day, and it is the complement of Memorial Day which honors our veterans’ who are no longer living. The combined forces of the Village Voices, the Concert Band, and the Handbell Ensemble performances were moving, and one can only imagine how much time was spent in preparation for the event.

The Boy Scouts of America, Troop 253, under the direction of Scoutmaster Ed Bennett, made the presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance. Ken Carter, Director of the Village Voices, and holder of an incomparable bass singing voice, then led the way with a moving rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” 

Colonel George Thomas James, Jr. USAF (retired), and friend Margaret Allvey, strike a pose together before the 19th Annual Veterans’ Day program. Col. James, a pilot, flew 31 missions in B-26 Martin Marauder Bombers with the 572nd Squadron of the 391st Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force during World War II. Their mission was to bomb bridges, roads, etc., referred to as interdiction bombing, to support the U.S. Army ground forces in Europe. Photos by Thom Harney

Reverend Peter Unruh of The Villages Community Chapel gave the Invocation, while Carter gave the welcome.
In addition, Hal Peterson, Director of the Villages Concert Band, directed the Navy Hymn, while Earl Levin, Director of the Villages Handbell Ensemble, directed “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again . . .” and the “Salute to Our Military.”

Major Dan Markert, United States Army National Guard addressed the Veterans and other guests, stressing the importance of honoring all the living veterans who answered the call to serve their country, who gave so much, and who asked so little in return. Major Markert received a standing ovation

Other musical selections followed and then the participatory high point of the truly moving program came with the closing musical selection, when Veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard,  and the wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters who had made their sacrifices along with the veteran to their country in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq, were asked to stand when the Villages Concert Band played the musical salute to each one of the branches. It was truly a very special occasion. Bishop LeGrande Anderson of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints then gave the Benediction. It was a truly memorable Veterans’ Day Program!