NEW YORK -- The Marine Corps Band New Orleans performed at multiple concerts, to mark the closure of the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial celebrations, at Washington Square Park, Hunter College and Four Freedoms Park in New York City, June 14-16, 2017.
New York served as the starting and ending point for the celebration of the 100 years of service the Marine Corps Reserves has contributed to the U.S.
“It’s an honor for the Marine Corps to choose New York to begin and end the Centennial celebrations here,” said Trooper Kristen Erario, a recruitment officer with the New York State Police and Gunnery Sgt. in the Marine Corps Reserves. “For the band to come here and show their talent, it really gives a positive image and influence of what the Marine Corps is.”
During the concerts, the band played songs such as “Semper Fidelis”, “March of the Women Marines” and “The Montford Point Marines,” in order to highlight historical points throughout the Marine Corps Reserve timeline and the missions of the Marine Corps Reserve.
“The music tells the story of the Marine Corps Reserve,” said Gunnery Sgt. Justin A. Hauser, enlisted conductor of Marine Corps Band New Orleans. “Each tune we picked is either from that time period or a point of conflict during the Marine Corps Reserve history.”
With a small Marine Corps presence in New York City, the band’s performances allowed the citizens of New York a chance to interact with Marines and look into the culture and history of the Marine Corps Reserves.
“The civilians here in the city aren’t used to having military around,” said Jason A. Mangone, the senior advisor and director for Public Private Partnerships and Development at New York City Department of Veterans' Services, and a former Marine. “You get many people who have served and many people who haven’t served in the same place, sharing the same experiences, it can really give them a window into that culture and build a good relationship between the communities.”
Throughout the hundred years of service the Marine Corps Reserves have played a large role in our society, history fighting wars and helping on the home front.
Established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson in response to WWI, the Marine Corps Reserve have served in every major conflict since then, ready to augment, reinforce and support the Marine Corps Active component.
Besides being warfighters, the Marine Corps Reserve offers many programs to Reserve Marines to help out in their local hometown, such as conducting funeral honors, color guards and leading the annual Toys for Tots campaign.
The Marine Corps Band New Orlean’s performances ended the 100 year anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial and showed the dedicated service of the Marine Corps Reserves.