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The Marine Big Band performed July 30, 2015 at the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali/released)

Photo by SSgt Rachel Ghadiali

Marine Big Band and the 70th Anniversary of WWII

7 Aug 2015 | Staff Sgt. Rachel Ghadiali United States Marine Band

In a special tribute to our veterans who served so valiantly in the Great War, “The President’s Own” Marine Big Band will perform a concert at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16, at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The performance is free and no tickets are required.

The program will include snippets of radio broadcasts from the 1940s and songs from the era including Joe Garland’s “In the Mood,” Harry Warren’s “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” Glenn Miller’s “American Patrol,” Benny Goodman’s “Let’s Dance,” Harold Arlen’s “Over the Rainbow,” and many other tunes that were popular during the time.

“We want to follow the war by each year, starting with 1941,” group leader Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather said. “We want to take people back and show ‘here’s what was going on at the time.’ The radio snippets will provide a sense of what was happening and what American citizens would have heard throughout the war.”

In partnership with the National Park Service, Gottaswing, and Spirit of ’45, a public wreath laying ceremony honoring America’s WWII generation will be held at the Memorial just prior to the concert. The ceremony will include the National Anthem, “Taps,” and a tribute to those who served. The wreath laying ceremony is part of a worldwide effort to honor America’s servicemen. The tribute will begin at the American Cemetery in the Philippines and continue throughout American cemeteries in Europe and the United States, concluding at the WWII Memorial. In addition, a 20-minute intermission will highlight swing dancing by Gottaswing.

Patrons are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on as there is no permanent seating available.