Veterans Day concert to honor sacrifices of service members

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – A concert celebrating America’s military service members will take place at Laramie County Community College on Veterans Day.

“Honoring Our Veterans,” featuring the Cheyenne Brass Band and LCCC Wind Ensemble, is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium on the Cheyenne campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

Music has always been intertwined with the experience of military life, from the songs that march soldiers forward to the melodies that bring them home. The experiences of those affected by military conflict, including those who serve, cannot be adequately explained in words. Music, however, can embody those emotions in a deeply human way, said Dr. Frank Cook, LCCC music instructor and director of bands.

“This concert is one of our most meaningful performances each year,” Cook said. “It’s a chance to honor those who have served while recognizing the deep emotional experiences tied to military life. Music captures what words can’t — gratitude, sacrifice and the enduring human spirit.”

The Cheyenne Brass Band will open the evening with the “National Anthem,” followed by patriotic staples such as “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Armed Forces Salute.” Additional selections will include Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” “Suite of American Overtures No. 2” by Stephen Bulla, and “They Gave All,” a hymn of remembrance commissioned by the Colorado Freedom Foundation for the Colorado Freedom Memorial written by Andy Wolfe of Denver Brass.

The LCCC Wind Ensemble will follow with “Of Honor and Valor Eternal” by Ayatey Shabazz, a Mississippi-born African American composer, written in tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. The program continues with “Piccolo Picante” featuring guest soloist and retired Army Col. Rosemarie Harding, a longtime community musician who served in Afghanistan.

The ensemble will also perform “Chorale and Shaker Dance” by John Zdechlik, based on the familiar American folk tune “Simple Gifts,” and “Hymn to the Fallen” by John Williams from the World War II epic film “Saving Private Ryan.” The set will close with John Philip Sousa’s “Hail to the Spirit of Liberty.”

Cook said the concert’s programming acknowledges the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, bringing added depth to the tribute.

“Every piece on the program connects to themes of service, courage, and reflection,” Cook said. “It’s both a celebration and a remembrance — a way for our community to come together through music.”