Homecomers marches to tune of Army Band

Given the emphasis on honoring military service at this year's Jackson Homecomers celebration, organizer Linda Penzel thought booking the 312th Army Band to perform on the concluding night of the event made perfect sense.

The band will perform on the main stage in front of the Jackson courthouse at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the final night of Homecomers 2011.

Parents and spouses of those actively serving are being invited each evening to come to the main stage and receive a small token of appreciation, said Penzel, who said soldiers and their families deserve recognition due to the sacrifice they all have made.

"Our country's been in such turmoil," Penzel said about the demands on the military today. "We thought that would be a great way to let them know we support them."

In addition to the recognition given to active duty military and families during the week, the band will honor veterans as a part of its performance.

Penzel said she worked for more than two years to bring the 312th Army Band to Jackson. The band's schedule stays booked for at least a year in advance, Penzel said.

Chief Warrant Officer Rob Claggett, who serves as commander and conductor of the band, said the 312th performs 40 to 50 dates per year. Members of the 312th are all reservists, and their time with the band counts toward their reserve duty commitment.

The 312th is one of 17 reserve bands, to go with 34 active duty Army Bands that, according to their mission statements, strive "to instill in our soldiers the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote our national interests at home and abroad."

The 312th has performed in front of some large audiences, including the 25,000 people who attended the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill., in 2005.

While patriotic music and fanfares are important parts of the 312th's repertoire, that doesn't mean only John Philip Sousa fans should attend Saturday night's concert, according to Claggett. Among the band's many incarnations are a ceremonial band, a stage band, a rock band, ensembles and, of course, a full concert band.

"We'll begin and end with the full concert band, and sandwiched in between we'll have selections from small combo and large group," he said. The combo, named Iowa Street, plays a rock and pop-style show, while the music of the larger group, Super Hypnotic, has a jazz influence.

"Because we play such a wide variety of music, there will be something there for all ages," said Claggett, who is from Wisconsin.

For four musicians performing with the 312th Army Band, the concert at Homecomers will truly be a homecoming.

Percussionist Staff Sgt. Brent Kinder and lead trombonist Staff Sgt. Chris Reynolds both attended Jackson public schools. They will be among the 38 musicians performing Saturday evening.

In addition to Kinder and Reynolds, Claggett said that two members of another army band with Jackson ties asked for and received permission to play with the 312th band at Homecomers. Claggett didn't know the names of the visiting musicians but said they are based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

The 312th Army Band is based in Lawrence, Kan. The band's members are from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.