MILLINGTON, Tenn. (AP) – Military bands are a valued part of American culture, with their musicians lending a sense of patriotism, pride and nostalgia to performances at sporting events, hospitals, small-town parades and service-member funerals.
For years, Navy Band Mid-South, based in Millington, Tennessee, played for audiences that not only enjoyed renditions of “God Bless America” or the Navy theme song, but also rock and roll and jazz music. But because of a reduction in musicians caused by budget cuts, the Navy decided to dismantle the 30-plus member band, sending its musicians to other bands around the world and disappointing some in small towns.
The Navy Band-Mid South, and the Navy Band New Orleans, played their final performances earlier this year, after cuts to the Navy’s music program led to a reduction of 122 musicians.