The Fort Scott National Historic Site continued their third annual Symbols of Sacrifice event, featuring almost 7,000 flags to be flown at the fort Sept. 11-17, with a performance by the 1st Infantry Division Band from Fort Riley Saturday evening.
The band, which included a brass quintet as well as a percussionist, performed a variety of songs ranging from patriotic to recent pop culture tunes as well as classical pieces, which they have also performed for others while on deployment. Four of the band members had just recently returned from deployment.
“We are very happy and excited to be playing here for you tonight,” band member Jason Bemis said to the community members present for the concert at the fort.
Other band members included Chris Arnold, William Knight, John Doney, Bradley Smith and Amanda DiClerico playing trumpets, a French horn, trombone, tuba and drum set.
The band honored each branch of the armed forces by playing the song of each branch and asking veterans and family members of military members to stand. They closed their performance with “America the Beautiful.”
Park ranger Bill Fischer also honored all Vietnam veterans in partnership with the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration.
“A grateful nation thanks all of you,” Fischer said to those veterans, who received commemorative pins.
A 21-gun salute was fired in honor of those veterans and all military members followed by taps played by a member of the brass band.
The flags – each representing an American killed since the start of the War on Terror while in combat, in the line of duty at home or away as well as non-combatants killed – will be on display at the fort’s parade grounds until noon on Thursday.
