Great military band show

The 30-plus-member U.S. Air Force Band of Flight from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base performed Saturday evening before a packed house at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

The 500-plus people at the concert were treated to a fantastic show, which included several patriotic numbers as well as a salute to each branch of the military.

I have to admit, I've always thought of the Mid-Ohio Valley as being a strong Army and Marine Corps area, so I was surprised by the large number of Air Force veterans who stood when their service theme was played.

The News and Sentinel, along with WVUP, sponsored the performance, and the newspaper couldn't have been happier with the turnout and the program, the first part of which dealt with more symphonic-like numbers with a Latin theme and the second half with more popular numbers.

The newspaper greatly enjoys sponsoring such performances, and I wish we could get a military band at least once a quarter, but we have to schedule around the various bands' touring agenda and availability.

I'd love to have one again in the summer so we could utilitize the band shell in City Park and again see the grounds packed. We'll keep working on that possibility.