EVERY CAMPERS’ TOES ARE A’TAPPIN TONIGHT!

The Marine Military Academy Summer and ESL campers were treated to an evening of the finest in military music as performed by The Texas Army National Guard 36th Infantry Division’s Lone Star Band on Thursday evening, July 5 th. The performance began at 6:30 p.m. in MMA’s Phil Yeckel Memorial Auditorium with all campers, several Academy staff and faculty, and area residents comprising the audience...and what a receptive crowd to an incredible concert performance! The evening’s performances racked up three standing ovations and an ample array of “OORAH’s” aplenty!

Especially well-received were concert renditions heavily-accented with percussion, drums, saxophone, and even electric guitar…sending a number of campers to strumming their air guitars while tapping their toes to the beat!

The 36th Infantry Division’s “Lone Star” Band is set to tour several Texas cities this summer including McAllen, Harlingen, Austin and Dallas in dedication to the families of deployed military members and in recognition of employers in these cities who support their citizen-soldiers. The Band consists of 55 citizen-soldiers representing the great state of Texas in events both at home and abroad one weekend per month and an additional two weeks each summer. The Band houses several performing groups within its company element including 36 th Concert and Marching Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Latin Band, Brass Ensemble, and the Rock/Country Combo…and campers were treated to a combination of all at Thursday evening’s concert.

Originally captioned “The 49th Armored Division Band”, the Band was formed in New Braunfels on April 1937 during World War II becoming the first American division to touch Italian soil, then deactivated on Feb. 15, 1946. In 1968 the Band moved from New Braunfels to Camp Mabry. In 1973 the Band activated once again under the 49th Armored Division streamer, touring Italy, Australia, Bosnia and the Czech Republic. Deactivating in 2004, the Band returned to original designation as “36th Infantry Division Band”. Since January 1st of this year, the Band has performed for audiences of more than 50,000 people and serves as the most visible element of all Texas military forces.

An evening of concert’s finest, enjoyed in the cool air-conditioned comforts of MMA’s Yeckel Auditorium … the MMA Summer and ESL Camp experience continues!!!