Eastern will commemorate U.S. veterans with music on Thursday.

The Eastern Wind Symphony will present “Call to Duty: A Veterans Day Tribute” as a tribute to veterans.

Alan Sullivan, interim director of bands, director of the Panther Marching Band and the Eastern Wind Symphony, said the band will be playing music that shows patriotism for the troops and veterans.

“We are playing tunes that have an Americana feel to them,” Sullivan said. “We will play some tunes that were written for our veterans and some that are just basic patriotic tunes.”

The Eastern Wind Symphony will be performing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The band will also play “American Overture for Band” by Joseph Willcox Jenkins. This composition was written for the United States Army Field Band 50 years ago.

“This year marks its (the United States Army Field Band’s) 50th anniversary,” Sullivan said. “It’s a special time to be playing this selection.”

They will be playing “Anthem” by Mark Camphouse, a composition written about the Iraq War. This composition is a mix of the new Iraq national anthem, the U.S. national anthem and some other original material.

The band will also play a piece that is a salute for troops of D-Day on June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France. “Lonely Beach Normandy 1944,” by James Charles Barnes will be played for these troops.

“It is actually a tone poem that goes through how one soldier might have perceived the day, including his death,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said there will also be a slideshow presentation that goes along with the composition.

“We’ve put together a slidesshow together with pictures from D-Day,” Sullivan said. “So, it’ll be really emotional for the audience.”

They will also play “Taps” in remembrance of all the troops that have lost their lives from the U.S.

“America the Beautiful,” written by Katharine Lee Bates and composed by Samuel A. Ward, will also be played.

“Chester” by William Billings will be played. This song was considered the theme song of the Revolutionary War, Sullivan said.

The symphony will also play “Duty, Honor, Country” while a narrator reads a speech by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

During the “Armed Forces Salute” those who have served and their families will be asked to stand and be recognized for their service, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he wants to recognize both the veterans and their families because their families sacrifice too.

“For example, my daughter-in-law hasn’t seen my son in a long time,” Sullivan said. “Since they’ve been married he has been deployed longer than they’ve been together.”

“The Stars and Stripes” by John Philip Sousa will close the show.

Sullivan said he thinks it is important to recognize the veterans.

“The old saying goes ‘freedom isn’t free,’ and it’s not,” Sullivan said. “Our veterans and current military members are why we have the freedoms that we have in the United States. It’s important to recognize those that have given service to their country.”

This event will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Dvorak Concert Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Admission is $5.

Samantha McDaniel can

be reached at 581-2812

or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.