42nd Infantry Division Band Performs at Paterson Recreation Center, Montrose Veterans Administration Hospital

New York Army National Guard band kicks off annual statewide concert tour with Hudson Valley performances

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The 42nd Infantry Division Band performing at an Iraqi Army Training School graduation exercise in Tikrit, Iraq in 2005.

PATERSON, NY (08/05/2014)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band will play a free concert Wednesday night at the Paterson Recreation Center.The concert takes place a 7 p.m.

The band performs again in the area at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Montrose Veterans Administration Hospital.

The two performances are part of the 42nd Infantry Division Band's two-week Annual Training. The band will appear at performances across the state as the musical ambassadors of the New York Army National Guard and the 42nd Infantry "Rainbow" Division.

The band is based at the New York National Guard's Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt Manor.

Other band performances are:

• Westerleigh Park, Staten Island on Friday, August 8;

• Syracuse University on Saturday, August 9;

• Smith Opera House in Geneva, New York on Sunday, August 10;

• Auburn Jr. High School in Auburn, New York on Monday, August 11;

• Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York on Wednesday August 13;

• And Shepards Park in Lake George, New York on Friday, August 15.

Members of Army bands are both musicians and Soldiers. Along with playing their instruments band members train on the same weapons and combat skills that all Soldiers learn. When they are not performing at ceremonies or at morale building events, band members fulfill other military task.

Historically members of Army bands served as stretcher bearers during battle, caring for wounded Soldiers. In modern times band members have been trained to perform security missions. During the 42nd Divison Band's deployment to Tikrit, Iraq in 2005, for example, band members acted as guards for the 42nd Infantry Division Main Command Post .

The 42nd Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Rainbow Division" during World War I because its members came from National Guard units that stretched across America like a "rainbow", has been a New York Army National Guard unit since 1947. The division was most recently deployed to Iraq in 2005 and the 42nd Infantry Division Band deployed as part of the division headquarters. Band members performed at military ceremonies, played for U.S. troops at dining halls and recreation centers, and performed at receptions for local Iraqi offiicals.

For more information on the band's concert schedule, or to arrange coverage of the band members of the press should contact Sgt. 1st Class Becky Rapp at 914-944-6552.