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The United States Army Field Band of Washington, D.C. is a touring musical organization of the United States Army. Each year, the Army Field Band performs more than 400 concerts and makes thousands of appearances before audiences of all ages. From America's largest cities to her smallest heartland communities, "The Musical Ambassadors of the Army" tell the story of the Army. The soldier-musicians of the Field Band have appeared live, on the radio, and on television in all 50 states, and have performed in 25 foreign countries on four continents. They are the most traveled musical organization of the United States military. Stationed at Ft. Meade, MD, the Army Field Band consists of four performing components: The Concert Band, The Soldiers' Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors, and The Volunteers. The Army Field Band's operations component works in garrison at Ft. Meade and organizes all tours. Every four years, the Army Field Band is charged with the special responsibility of leading the first element of the Presidential Inaugural Parade. The Kennedy Center Honors, three World Series, the Baltimore Orioles' annual home finale, the 1995 Presidential Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of V-J Day, the 40th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, the National Memorial Day Concert, the state funerals of Presidents Reagan and Ford, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games are some examples of high-profile appearances by the Army Field Band. However, the Army Field Band's day-to-day mission is to represent the United States Army by performing concerts across America, from the most prestigious of concert halls to the humblest of schools. == Beginnings == During World War II, musical groups crisscrossed the United States, performing concerts and shows that helped to raise money for the war effort. The USO shows, made famous through their connection with Hollywood greats like Bob Hope, did much to keep Americans aware of the sacrifices made by the nation's servicemen and women overseas. After his tour in the Pacific Theater, Chief Warrant Officer Chester E. Whiting became the first commander of the First Combat Infantry Band, a unique group made up entirely of combat veterans. The band traveled the country and presented concerts very much like those given by the USO—shows full of a wide variety of classical and popular music. Admission to a typical First Combat Infantry Band concert was gained by buying a War Bond. The band raised over a million dollars for the war effort, earning the nickname "The Million Dollar Band." Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers, Commanding General of U.S. Army Ground Forces, recognized the great success of shows like those produced by the USO and the First Combat Infantry Band. He believed that a band made up of active duty Soldiers would be a valuable asset to the Army's public relations mission, and that a band made up entirely of combat veterans would make a dynamic impact on American audiences. In 1946, the United States Armed Forces were in the midst of the largest military drawdown in modern history. Millions of servicemen and women returned stateside to resume their civilian lives and the military's numbers decreased dramatically. General Devers foresaw the need to maintain a relationship between the Army and the American people. An important part of this effort was the First Combat Infantry Band. General Devers' message of March 21, 1946 to Chief Warrant Officer Whiting was brief but profound, articulating the principal mission of The U.S. Army Field Band in words that continue to be used today:
The band's members had to pass a rigorous audition. The nucleus of the organization consisted of musicians from the original First Combat Infantry Band, greatly streamlining the process of forming the new unit. The new band existed under the umbrella of U.S. Army Ground Forces, and was renamed The Army Ground Forces Band. In the spring of 1950, as the Army Ground Forces were re-titled "U.S. Army Field Forces," the band assumed a new name—The United States Army Field Band—that it keeps to this day. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「United States Army Field Band」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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