42nd Infantry Division Army National Guard Band final public performances on Long Island this Saturday

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Members of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band perform for the community during the unit annual training in Lake George, July 2012.

SAYVILLE, N.Y. (08/12/2016)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band will wrap up the unit's summer concert tour this Saturday with two free concerts Saturday in Sayville and Patchogue.

WHO: New York Army National Guard "Rainbow Division" bandmembers and music fans.

WHAT: Two free performances that are part of the 42nd Infantry Division Band's annual training tour.

WHEN: Saturday, August 13, 2016

WHERE: The band performs at noon at the VFW Post 433 summer barbeque, 400 Lakeland Ave, Sayville, N.Y., 11782

The band's final performance on Long Island in August will also be August 13th at the New Village, 1 Village Green Way, Patchogue, N.Y. 11772, at 7 pm.

CONTACT: Staff Sgt. Christopher Smalls, christopher.c.smalls.mil@mail.mil or (914) 944-6552 for media availabilities prior to a performance.

Bandmembers of the famed "Rainbow Division" 42nd Infantry appear in communities across New York State this August. The concert tour, conducted as part of the unit's annual training, delivers music spanning and connecting generations. With the expected military traditional and classical music, the band's range covers baroque to pop and jazz.

Background:

The "Rainbow Division" Band has a long history, playing for troops in World War I when the nickname "Rainbow" Division was adopted within the 42nd Infantry. Music is broad and varied, with multiple groups performing. Classical music, marches, patriotic selections, jazz, rock and popular music are all within the band's repertoire. Many musicians capably play more than one instrument. The band has historically played and performed wherever needed, whether as musicians for morale, stretcher bearers in care of wounded or as security more recently in Tikrit, Iraq. "Stretching across America like a rainbow" was a geographical reference for a group whose widely spread origins across the country came together proudly in a unit of precision and inclusion.

Today all members of the band train and maintain fitness on the same weapons and combat skills that all Soldiers learn, additionally practicing music. Members of New York's Army National Guard since 1947, the band deployed in 2005 to Iraq as part of the 42nd Infantry's Division headquarters. Band members played at ceremonies, in dining halls, for Iraqi officials and sometimes alongside Iraqi musicians.

The 42nd Infantry Division Band, based at the Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, is under the command of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark L. Kimes and 1st Sergeant Leslie G. Saroka.

For more information contact Staff Sgt. Christopher Smalls, christopher.c.smalls.mil@mail.mil or (914) 944-6552.