Edition No. 81
Arts and Culture
Navy Band Great Lakes to perform for one night at The War Memorial in honor of Navy Week July 11-17.
Community and Family
The Selfridge Air National Guard Base Air Show and Open House kicks off this weekend featuring high-flying performances from teams across the country.
Navy Band Great Lakes to appear for one night at The War Memorial in honor of Navy Week
Coinciding with Navy Week Detroit, the Navy Band Great Lakes Wind Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. from the lakefront back lawn at The War Memorial on July 13.
Navy Week is slated for July 11-17. During the week, over 50 Sailors from across the fleet take part in the service’s signature outreach program.
“How Navy Week is different than Fleet Week is, in Fleet Week a ship will arrive and Sailors will get off the ship and take over the town in a positive way, doing community outreach events,” Musician First Class Carl Schulte said. “A Navy Week does the same thing, but we try to bring the Navy where ships cannot go. Places where there’s not a lot of Navy exposure.”
Schulte has been in the Navy Band Great Lakes since September 2020 where he plays trumpet. He also is the band’s tour operations coordinator.
Pride in Service has been the theme for Navy Band Great Lakes for more than a century. From 1911, when the band first formed, to 1917, when Lieutenant Commander John Philip Sousa served as Bandmaster, its music represents the pride and professionalism that is synonymous with the United States Navy.
The band, based in Great Lakes, Illinois, consists of instruments like clarinets, trumpets, trombones, tuba, saxophone, flute, and a percussion section.
Speaking about what the public can expect from the performance, Schulte commented folks will see active-duty Sailors in uniform, displaying plenty of patriotism.
“In a lot of ways, we’re the keeper of tradition,” he said. “Music tends to be that and elevates tradition and elevates the ceremony. We’re trying to inspire patriotism in those who are there.”
Navy Band Great Lakes provides musical support for communities of all sizes as well as supporting Navy recruiting in an 11-state area of responsibility stretching from Michigan to North Dakota. The wind ensemble is comprised of 30 professional musicians under the direction of Lt. Christopher Cornette. The Wind Ensemble's repertoire consists of symphonic band works, patriotic music, Americana, and featured solo vocal and instrumental selections.
In addition to appearing at TWM, the band will appear at places like The Detroit Zoo, Eastern Market, Greenfield Village, River Raisin National Battlefield Park, and more during Navy Week.
The concert is free and all are welcome. Due to construction and parking limitations, advanced registration is requested for this performance. Folks can register at the link below.
Celebrating The Next Century Of Flight
The general public will soon have a chance to check out some of the work done at metro Detroit’s hometown air base! The Selfridge Air National Guard Base Air Show and Open House is set for July 9 and July 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
The two-day show attracts high-flying performances from teams across the country. Some performers include:
Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III Demo
U.S. Army Golden Knights
MH-65 Dolphin
A-4 Skyhawk
The weekend also features ground displays like the F-18 Hornet “Top Gun” experience and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. This year’s theme is The Next 100 Years.
Selfridge, in Harrison Township, is one of the oldest continuously operating military airfields in the nation. The first flight on what was then called Selfridge Field took place on July 8, 1917. The base has been in continuous use ever since.
Learn more about the air show at the link below.
Inspired Thoughts is a collection of highly curated content that embraces the spirit and purpose of The War Memorial: arts and culture, community enrichment, leadership, and patriotism.
Derived from the notion that learning from others is the key to success, Inspired Thoughts is meant to shine a light on those making a difference in the world around them. This collection features artists, poets, writers, architects, and every thought leader in-between. Inspired Thoughts is the strongest reflection of what The War Memorial stands for, and what we aim to be.
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