U.S. Army Herald Trumpets to play for significant War Memorial ceremony
With plenty of requests to perform across the country each year, events that have national and/or international significance are given top priority for the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets to perform at.
The dedication ceremony for Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge at The War Memorial fits the criteria.
The Herald Trumpets will perform live May 25 at The War Memorial at a dedication ceremony for Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge - the 50-foot-wide and 25-foot-tall sculpture is modeled after the original Les Braves on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. The evening will also include remarks from the artist, Anilore Banon, dignitaries, a special ribbon cutting ceremony and more.
The ensemble is comprised of 14 trumpeters, three drummers, a conductor and announcer. The full 19-member ensemble will play at The War Memorial.
“In the United States, there’s not a lot of full herald trumpets ensembles,” Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy McBride said. McBride is part of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, joining in 2013. “We might be the only one that is our size.”
The family of trumpets utilized by the Herald Trumpets include the E flat soprano, B flat trumpet, a tenor, and a bass trumpet. The B flat trumpet is the same length as a traditional trumpet, just unwrapped, McBride explained.
“The sound we are able to get is broader than most other groups,” he said.
The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets are a performing element of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” The Herald Trumpets, based at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, are the official fanfare ensemble to The President of The United States. They are scheduled to play for the National Memorial Day Concert May 28 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
“Our primary job, our mission, is supporting and is playing at The White House,” he said. “We’re able to get out and do other events also.”
At the Les Braves II dedication, McBride said the group will perform the National Anthem, a few fanfares throughout, with a full performance toward the end of the program.
He commented that trumpet players in the Army Band frequently play taps, including at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. They also play at Arlington for simple honor funerals and full honor funerals.
“We play full military honors pretty regularly,” he said. “We do a lot of retirement ceremonies, and funeral musical needs for Washington D.C. On top of that, we’ll do Herald duties, with Herald performances happening about three times a month.”
McBride, who plays the euphonium, explained that each Herald Trumpets member is also part of The Army Band.
“First and foremost, I’m a euphonium player for the band. For Herald Trumpets, I play tenor herald trumpet, which is a low trumpet that balances out the bottom end of it,” he said.
Founded in 1959, the Herald Trumpets were formed to add splendor to official military ceremonies. The group is patterned after traditional British fanfare trumpet ensembles. They can often be seen lining the South Portico of the White House, as the president welcomes foreign ambassadors, royalty, and visiting heads of state.
Notable events it has played for include 16 presidential inaugurals and each presidential inauguration since President John F. Kennedy's in 1961, the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, the official White House arrival ceremonies of Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and Pope Francis in 2015, and the 2013 opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Library which was attended by all five living Presidents of the United States.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, is an experiential space open to everyone from everywhere. For more than 70 years, it has served as a patriotic, cultural, and community center. Its unique environment attracts more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually while offering premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings. Its diverse lineup of innovative programming includes live and virtual engagement experiences for adults and children. At its core, The War Memorial celebrates the ideas of American democracy while honoring those who have defended those ideas with tireless effort and personal sacrifice. Numerous patriotic and veterans’ events are held as well as history and civics offerings on the origin, traditions, and challenges facing American democracy. The War Memorial remains committed to serving the community as a unique, dynamic, and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Manager of Communications
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org