Concert band gives families opportunity to honor veterans
The Hot Springs Concert Band will include a Veterans’ Roll of Honor in the printed program at its free concert on Memorial Day, May 28, in Whittington Park.
For a $20 donation, a veteran’s name, rank and branch of service will be included on the list of only 200 veterans.
“Our concert honors every U.S. veteran who has ever served,” Hot Springs Community Band’s director of development, Millie Lancaster, said. “But this is an opportunity for a family to honor a loved one in a special way.
“We have a lot of veterans who are still living being honored, and quite a number who have passed on, as well. Lots of folks are honoring their family who fought in World War II.”
Several people have included family members who fought in earlier wars. “I know of at least one veteran from the War of 1812 being honored,” Lancaster said. “This was from a person who has recently become interested in her family history, and she said that honoring her mother’s great-grandfather has made her feel more connected to this man she never knew.”
Lancaster said several people have wanted to include more information than branch of service, rank, and name of veteran, such as years of service, wars fought in, or medals won. “We wish we had the room to list all the things people would like to have commemorated about their veterans, but all we can list is branch of service, rank and name. A living Army veteran may be listed beside one who served in the American Revolution, a living Navy vet listed next to one who fought in World War I. There’s something beautiful about that.
“We have 117 spaces left,” said Lancaster, “So people who want to honor their vet in this way should act soon.”
Persons wishing to honor a veteran should send their own contact information along with the veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, and a $20 check made out to HSCB to Millie Lancaster, 4 Sonora Way, Hot Springs Village.
Call 501-209-2155 for more information.