National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band offers free performances in Capital Region, Lake George, Corinth from August 3-9
Latham, New York (07/31/2024) — The 37 Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band will be playing in the Capital Region and Lake George from August 3 to 9. The free performances are open to the public.
The band traces its history back to World War I. Army bands originally played troops into combat and then served as litter carriers to move the wounded after the battle.
Today they perform to boost morale and, as trained Soldiers, perform other duties in the field.
During the bands deployment to Iraq in 2005, for example, the Soldiers served as security for the Division Main Command Post, when they were not performing.
The planned performances are:
- Two performances in Lake George's Shepard's Park, one on Saturday August 3 at 1 p.m. and a second on Thursday, August 8 at 9 p.m.
- Congress Park in Saratoga Springs at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 4.
- Albany Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center on Tuesday, August 6 at 10 a.m.
- Corinth Central High School in Corinth on Wednesday, August 7 at 7 p.m.
- Central Park in Schenectady on Friday, August 9 at 7 p.m.
The 90 minute performances will feature music from World War II, the movies, modern concert arrangements, big band music, Latin tunes, patriotic music, and traditional military tunes.
The band, which is stationed at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, breaks down into concert, brass quintet, jazz, brass and commercial music performance teams and all of these will perform.
The August 8th performance at Lake George will feature military marches during the village's fireworks display.
The 42nd Infantry Division Band performed for Governor Kathy Hochul and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands when they visited Albany on June 12.
In 2023 the band performed in Jerusalem at a Forth of July reception hosted by the American Ambassador to Israel.
Throughout the year the band performs at military ceremonies held across the state.
The band is commanded by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ethan F. Wagner. The Non-commissioned officer in charge is 1st Sgt. Ryan Lucas.
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42nd Infantry Division Band members perform at the Executive Mansion in Albany during Gov. Kathy Hochul's reception for the king and queen of the Netherlands on June 12, 2024.