Veterans, students, current military members and community members all showed their supports for the military members Thursday.

Patriotism, support and caring were some of the themes in the music played by the Eastern Wind Symphony during its annual “A Call to Duty” performance Thursday to honor those who have served, are serving and their families.

The Eastern Reserve Officers’ Training Corps presented the American Flag at the start of the performance, along with the military flags during the playing of “Armed Forces Salute” by Bob Lowden.

Also during the salute, members of each branch were asked to stand and be recognized by the audience when their branch of the military was called.

Alan Sullivan, the interim director of bands and the director of the Panther Marching Band and the Eastern Wind Symphony, said it is important to honor the veterans and troops because of all they do or did for the country.

The symphony also played “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa, the national march. During the middle of the piece, a huge American Flag fell and hung from the ceiling and was in the spot light until the end of the concert.

The composition of “Lonely Beach (Normandy, 1944)” by James Barnes was played while a slideshow of pictures from D-Day was shown.

This composition is based on a film that showed the footage of the assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.

The tone of the music, along with the pictures, told the story of what happened that day. The pictures included pictures of Omaha Beach, fighting and death, and images before and after the battle.

Eastern’s Wind Symphony also played “Duty, Honor, Country.” The performers played softly while Matt Piescinski, a Charleston resident, read sections of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s speech to the Corps of Cadets 
at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. on May 12, 1962.

Other compositions played included: “Anthem” by Mark Camphouse, a mix between the national anthems of the United States and the Republic of Iraq; “The Star Spangled Banner” by John Stafford Smith; the “American Overture For Band” by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins; “Taps” the traditional piece for honoring troops; “America the Beautiful” by Samuel Ward; and “Chester Overture For Band” by William Schuman.

Sullivan said he felt it was necessary to honor the troops.

Sullivan said his son is in the military and is overseas.

Other members of the audience had connections with the military.

Channing Finklea, a freshman psychology major, said her father was in the Air Force.

“It was a great way to honor our troops,” Finklea said. “And it was a great way to remember those who have fought for our country.”

Finklea said Veterans Day is not just a day of when you are in high school; it is a way to recognize our veterans.

“It’s important to recognize all they’ve done and sacrificed,” Finklea said.

Maurice Green, a sophomore business major, said his uncle is currently serving in Afghanistan and said it is important to remember all of those how are serving and have served to protect our freedom.

Angela Napolitano, a sophomore music major, said her best friend is currently in the Marines.

“The concert was absolutely wonderful, they always have a great “Call to Duty” concert,” Napolitano said.

Napolitano said the music is a great way to show support.

“It’s another way to express feelings,” she said.

Larry Henderson and his wife Kay Henderson also attended the concert.

Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Larry Henderson was a in the Navy.

Kay Henderson said she believed the concert was excellent.

“The three songs they looped up in the first half were really stirring and really called back battle scenes,” Henderson said. “It was really hard not to cry.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.