Happy Veteran's Day

A short while ago, the Army School of Music Student Company took a trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the trip was to meet some of the musicians who work with the Army's top band, Pershing's Own. However, a secondary purpose was to help us remember what our role is as musicians in the Army.

While the entire day was spectacular, one of the most humbling experiences of my life occurred on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. There are nearly 100 hundred soldiers in Student Company and we all gathered at the famous landmark in order to take a company photo. As we marched across the National Mall, tourists and visitors started to appear from all directions to take pictures of us. We were warned beforehand by our First Sergeant that the people will look at us like characters in Disneyland, but nothing could have prepared us for the shear numbers of onlookers.

We climbed up the steps and lined up below President Lincoln's "temple." Still the people gathered, now pulling out their cameras to take pictures of us. I was touched by the excitement they had at seeing soldiers. A few minutes later, we were all in place and a civilian spectator offered to snap the photo. As he took a few pictures the crowd took advantage of the opportunity and the flashes and click-clacks of digital cameras reminded me of a rock concert. You have to imagine, the flow of people to the bottom of the steps of the memorial didn't stop until we left. They came from every corner of the National Mall to get a glimpse of the soldiers, all dressed in combat uniforms.

Finally, our leadership were satisfied with the photos and released us to spend the rest of the afternoon touring the Mall on our own. As we attempted to leave the formation, an applause followed by a cheer echoed throughout the park. Now stunned and entirely overwhelmed, we could only stand there, recognizing the gratitude the American people had for their servicemen and women, and yet feeling completely unworthy to receive such praise. After a minute or two the applause died down, and we were able to leave, but not before our company commander stopped us and said something very poignant: "When my dad got back from Vietnam he was booed and spit at. You should be very grateful for the way you are viewed today."

An unforgettable experience on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, just above the stone from which Dr. King spoke about freedom for all, and just below the feet of the man now considered responsible for preserving the unity of the United States.

I spent some time pondering about why that crowd of people gave us an applause. I think it was because we represent to them over 5,000 soldiers who have died in the last seven years. Maybe to them we represent someone they know and love who is in harms way right now.

We were constantly being stopped to take pictures with people; adults and children. We also had people yell at us from a distance, "Thank you for your service!" On my way to the Washington Monument, a man said, "Thank you boys for your service." I casually turned to smile, expecting to see just another person. When I looked at him, though, I saw that he was wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat. All I could say was, "No, thank you for your service." I had to stop and talk to him. It turns out he was there with some of his old war buddies to pay respects to one of their fallen comrades. They had built a small wooden cross and came to lay it underneath his name found on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. He was kind enough to allow me to join them as they began to search the wall for their friend's name. Once they found it, they made a rubbing with a crayon, placed the cross on the ground, and then spent a moment in silence. The sacrifice they made, both the living and the dead, is far greater than anything I will have to go through. Once again, I was very humbled.

In the nation's most well-known cemetery, Arlington, I had a chance to pay my respects to the Fallen, particularly, the Unknown Soldiers. I watched the Changing of the Guard ceremony that happens every hour. Soldiers come out and carefully lay wreaths on the tomb and then a bugler plays Taps. It was very solemn. Very humbling. Those three soldiers represent the millions killed in action and the those who are still unaccounted for. The way that bugler played Taps made me understand a little better my responsibility as a trumpet player in the Army. He plays Taps every hour, every day and yet he played it like it was a special ceremony. I hope to be able to show that kind of respect to the soldiers whose funerals I get to play at.

It was an amazing trip. I was moved and motivated. I hope someday to tell these stories to my kids and then take them to D.C. to show them where they happened. In no way do I subscribe to the America-is-the-Greatest-Country-in-the-World doctrine, because I love another country and its people just as much. It's the great symbolism of freedom that America is, or should be, that I love. I'm grateful to represent not only those who fight for America, but those who fight for freedom of all God's children.