US Air Force Heritage of America Band

The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band has a rich history of inspiring hearts and minds, building and sustaining American patriotism, and enhancing esprit de corps in the United States Air Force. It was one of the original Army Air Corps bands, created by order of the Secretary of War on October 1, 1941 and assigned to Barksdale Field, Louisiana. In June 1946, after a short stay at Brooks Field, Texas, the band arrived at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, its current home. For over half a century, the band has represented the Air Force with musical and military distinction. Members bring music to the mid-Atlantic in live concerts and to the nation in televised events such as "The Today Show" and the DESERT STORM National Victory Parade, as well as presidential inaugural events. The Heritage of America Band has performed ceremonies for U.S presidents and foreign heads of state, including the Queen of England and the President of France. Using today's technology, the band reaches a world wide audience through its website, social media and audio recordings. Additionally, the band travels more than 30,000 miles to perform hundreds of concerts for listeners across a six-state region from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. In recent years, the mission of Air Force Bands has become an expeditionary one. The Blue Aces were among the first groups to tour Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa to support coalition and Joint forces serving in the Global War on Terrorism. The USAF Heritage of America Band's exceptional musicianship has earned international critical acclaim and numerous honors: eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, five Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards, three Colonel George S. Howard Citations of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Band, North Carolina's Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and countless state and municipal proclamations. Under the leadership of its commander and conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey B. Warner, the USAF Heritage of America Band remains at the forefront of preserving and enriching America's musical heritage in the 21st century. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.