JWV and Town of Ramapo Bring West Point Band to Vets
U.S. Military Academy Band in Montebello honors veterans
By Ben Rubin – The Journal News – November 24, 2008
MONTEBELLO – Doraymus Robinson has seen his share of difficulty. A few months ago, poor blood pressure, stress and medications landed him in the veterans hospital in Montrose, he said.
But the Queens resident said he was brought close to tears yesterday while listening to the free “Salute to Our Veterans” concert by the United States Military Academy Band to celebrate veterans.
“There’s no words for it, just the best I’ve ever felt since I’ve been out of the military, listening to that,” said Robinson, 56, an Army infantryman in the 1970s. “I’ve never been appreciated like I’ve been appreciated up there.”
About 45 members of West Point’s professional concert band filled the stage in Suffern High School’s auditorium before a crowd of about 1,000 people, most of them veterans.
The musicians were brought there by Spring Valley’s Jewish War Veterans post and the town of Ramapo, as an appreciation to local veterans and their supporters.
About 60 veterans from the Montrose hospital were invited to a meal at an Outback Steakhouse, then received front-row seats at the concert.
“I guess I’d be lying if I didn’t say that’s what’s part of the job. That’s what’s expected from us,” Lt. Col. Timothy Holtan, the band commander, said about the concert a few minutes before heading on stage to conduct.
“But, it gives us satisfaction to do it, to reach out to the veterans,” he continued.
The West Point concert band, created in 1817, is made up of professional musicians from around the U.S. who are enlisted in the Army. The band is stationed at the military academy and plays at football games, parades, banquets, military funerals and graduations.
The band also regularly hosts concerts for the public as outreach work in the surrounding community.
After the national anthem, the band opened with “Fanfare for the Common Man,” then finished the first half with a rousing marching number, with loud brass and drums, called “On the Mall,” by Edwin Franko Goldman.
The second set included a medley of armed service songs, and as each tune was played, veterans from each military branch were asked to stand.
The last song in the concert was a boisterous “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which ended with a standing ovation from the audience.
Phil Tisi, assistant to the Ramapo supervisor and co-chairman of the concert committee, said the town and the local veterans chapter have worked together for years to hold fundraisers and concerts to recognize those who serve in the military. This was their first concert with the West Point concert band.
“It’s tremendous. This is one of the best concert bands in the world and we’re so privileged to have them here,” Tisi said.
“The veterans are the most important people in our society, as far as I’m concerned,” Tisi added. “Without veterans there wouldn’t be an America.”