PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- Marine Corps Band New Orleans performed a Centennial concert for local residents as part of a Veterans Day celebration at Plymouth Memorial Hall, Nov. 11, 2016.
The performance was one of several events the band participated in to recognize the long standing bond between the state of Massachusetts and the Marine Corps Reserve and to celebrate the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial.
Attendees of the concert were taken through “A Century of Service” as the band highlighted the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve. To do so the performance showcased different periods of the Marine Corps including using actors to represent Marines from World War I up until present day.
During the performance, time was also taken to recognize the veterans who were present in the crowds, the band asked the veterans to stand so the community could applaud and thank them for contributing to the Marine Corps and the country.
Thorough out the presentation the band walked through not only the battles these veterans and current service members have fought, but also showed the crowd how the Reserve force continuously contributes as civilians as well. Not only are they fighting as Marines, but they are also supporting the communities back home by excelling in their careers, running Toys for Tots, and volunteering on a regular basis.
“The public spends so much time seeing what the military does in times of conflict that I think it is important to show them that we serve in other ways,” said Sgt. Dominque Lewis, saxophone player with Marine Corps band New Orleans. “It is good to show them that we excel in a wide variety of areas.”
Reserve Marines come from every walk of life, bringing an unmeasurable breadth of experiences and skills to the force. On and off duty, the Marines in Massachusetts take their Marine Corps ethos of service back to their communities.
To commemorate the importance of the Reserves, Nicholas Rizzo, constituent services aide for the office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Common Wealth of Massachusetts, read a proclamation to ensure the Marine Corps Reserves contributions will always be remembered.
“To thank the Marine Corps Reserve for their service, Massachusetts will recognize November 13-19 as Marine Corps Reserve Week,” proclaimed Rizzo.
This event was part of a year-long calendar of commemorative celebrations across the county to recognize the Centennial of the Marine Corps Reserve. Other Boston area events were a Disabled American Veterans 5K run, the flag raising at the Iwo Jima Remembered in the New England halftime show, and a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony.
Reserve Marines throughout the U.S. marked 100 years of the Marine Corps Reserve on Aug. 29, 2016.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 86, 300 Marines from the Marine Corps Reserve have been mobilized in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Today approximately 500 Reserve Marines are providing fully integrated operational support to fleet and combatant commanders around the world. For more information on the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve as well as current Marine stories and upcoming events, please visit www.marines.mil/usmcr100.