CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Drums resonated, horns rang out and children laughed and applauded while the III Marine Expeditionary Force party band performed.
The III MEF Band entertained the children at the School Age Care Center on Camp Foster April 18 in support of the Month of the Military Child.
The party band is a small ensemble, made up of members of the III MEF Band and performs traditional New Orleans-style music, as well as modern brass band songs.
The songs were selected because they are fun and uplifting, said Cpl. Jeshua E. Sosa, a percussionist with the party band.
The Month of the Military Child was established to applaud the sacrifices military chidren make on a daily basis.
“The children were excited and running around,” said Sosa. “It is great to be able to play for kids and adults alike and see them enjoy the performance we put on for them.”
“I felt that I was doing my job correctly because of all those happy faces,” he said. “Overall, they were having fun and so was I.”
Members of the party band agreed that they enjoyed performing for the children at the School Age Care Center.
“It was truly a golden opportunity to expose the kids to some new kinds of music, as well as to give them a break from their everyday routine and enjoy a performance,” said Cpl. Daniel A. Muse, a percussionist with the party band.
Playing in support of the Month of the Military Child was a true privilege, according to Muse.
“We performed traditional New Orleans marches, such as ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ and ‘South Rampart Street Parade,’” said Muse. “We also performed some other popular tunes such as ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.’”
The performance was one of my all-time favorites because of the party band setting and being able to perform for the children, according to Muse.
“The kids were super energetic and participated in the show,” said Muse. “At times they were cheering and screaming so loudly we could barely hear ourselves. It was a level of hype that we rarely get to see.”