Free concert Friday at Saratoga Race Course by 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division Band

Related Media

42nd Infantry Division Band

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (08/11/2015)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band will play a free concert at 11:30 a.m. Friday Aug. 14th at Saratoga Race Course. Performances are part of the band's annual training tour, when the band plays across the state.

WHO: New York Army National Guard bandmembers and music fans

WHAT: Free outdoor concert

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. Friday, August 14, 2015

WHERE: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY

CONTACT: Sgt. 1st Class Becky Rapp (914) 944-6552, becky.rapp@us.army.mil

Bandmembers of the famed "Rainbow Division" 42nd Infantry appear at 11:30 a.m. Friday in a free concert at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. The concert tour, conducted as part of 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, to the newest "Three Day Pass" rock band featuring punk, ska and garage rock. While the program selections vary slightly with venue, possible titles include: "Star Trek: Into the Darkness", "A Disney Spectacular", "American Soldier", and the "Ultimate Patriotic Sing Along".

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.

The division was given its name by its first chief of staff then Colonel Douglas MacArthur who said that it was "Stretching across America like a rainbow" because it included units from the National Guards of 26 states.

Today all members of the band train and maintain fitness on the same weapons and combat skills that all Soldiers learn, additionally practicing music. 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 is under the command of Chief Warrant Officer Mark L. Kimes and 1st Sergeant Leslie G. Saroka.

Next performance in August:

August 15th at National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, NY at 12:00 p.m.

For more information contact Sgt. 1st Class Becky Rapp (914) 944-6552 or e-mail: becky.rapp@us.army.mil