Memorial Day Concert at the Springfield National Cemetary

The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band was represented in large numbers for one heck of a patriotic concert for the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Springfield National Cemetary on the morning of May 25th. The band was joined by several friends to fill out their sound and wow did we sound great as a group!!!

The band began playing at 10am and the weather looked for a moment like it might cooperate. Unfortunately the skies changed their mind 15 minutes into the band's concert and continued to rain down on the crowd through the rest of the ceremonies.

Dan Stark did an amazing job conducting the band and many of the songs played were enjoyed by the veterans, family members, and friends that huddled under multi colored umbrellas to pay their respects through the misting rain.

Crowd favorites included "Amazing Grace", "God of Our Fathers", "Dixieland Strut" and "You're A Grand Old Flag". The band also played the designated anthems for each branch of the military during the flag ceremonies.

Even with the rain, the crowd was large and the meaning of Memorial Day was well represented in the respect and tribute that flowed from each person in attendance.

The graves were all decorated with American flags and many Veterans proudly wore shirts, hats, and uniforms pertaining to their past and current military service.

Roy Blunt and Sara Lampe both spoke of the great sacrifices of the men and women in our nation's military service during times of war and the gift of freedom they protected for us and future generations to enjoy.

If you get a chance next year, please join the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band in honoring the ultimate sacrifices made by so many during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Springfield National Cemetery. This day is more than just an extended holiday weekend. By participating in the remembering of these ultimate sacrifices we can ensure that future generations carry on this well earned tradition. Not to mention you will hear one great outdoor concert from the band.

More band news to come over the summer. The band will be playing at the June 6th Ceremonial Parade and at the Ozark Empire Fair in early August. Check later for dates and times.

If you want information on how to join the band, send an e-mail to Joe at:

jandsgiboney@mchsi.com

We are always looking for new members and we share a great deal of fun and friendship while making great music. Practices are usually on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band room close to the main entrance.

Until next time...be safe and have a great summer.

Band Practice April 1st and 15th.

We WILL have practice this week, Wednesday, April 1. I am going to try to get to the Shrine tomorrow and start getting the room back in order. I hope to see everyone there on Wednesday at 7pm.

Until then,

Practice, practice, practice,

Joe

St. Patrick's Parade in Rolla, MO.

A great time was had by all in the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple Band. We loaded up the trailer, passed out the clothes pins & music, and played one great St. Patrick's parade together!!!

The weather was cooperating for a comfortably cool March Saturday and the mostly sunny sky really brought out a crowd out for the Rolla event.

Wow were we grateful for good weather!!!

There were people 7or 8 deep in places along the route. The onlookers loudly cheered as our snare drum player soloed to the crowd in between the musical numbers "In Heaven There Is No Beer" & the slower ballad "Irish Rose".

There are no words that I can muster to describe the fun and appreciation that so many had to see our band play proudly. I heard several times, both from young and old, "Go Shriners!!!" as we passed by.

I can also report, there was much laughter from the parade watchers during "In Heaven There Is No Beer" as the band comically sang...

In Heaven there is no beer. That's why we drink it here. And when we're all gone from here. Our friends will be drinking all the beer!!!

Being in the front of the parade this year, the band was able to unload and easily head over to the South Central Missouri Shrine Club when finished for an excellent lunch of Irish corn beef, cabbage and baby red potatoes.

I would like to personally thank these fellow Nobles for their excellent hospitality and wonderful culinary skills. (They served the best and most tender corn beef this fellow as ever had.)

The deserts were plentiful and the bar staff accommodating. The Rajah there, Richard Ferranto, was a wonderful host as were the other members of this club. We were greatly impressed and welcomed.

If you get the chance next year, I highly recommend visiting the South Central Missouri Shrine Club after the Rolla St. Patrick's parade for the friendship and fellowship that will follow. Contact (573) 364-0196 or (573) 364-7849 for more information about this incredible club and their scheduled activities.

Remember we will not have practice this coming Wednesday, March 18, because of the Circus. Please work at the Circus all that you can this week.

The next scheduled practice is April 1 at 7pm in the band room.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all from the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple Band!!!

Spring 2009 Schedule.

We have received new music to sight read this Wednesday so make it to rehearsal. We will also start working on Concert material. Following is the our Spring schedule:

March 4 Rehearsal at Shrine
March 14 Rolla....St. Pat's Day Parade
April 1 Rehearsal at Shrine
April 15 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 6 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 20 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 25 Memorial Day Concert
June 5 & 6 Temple Business Meeting and Spring Ceremonial!

See you Wednesday night and remember, the first 30 get a free beer! (maybe something better?) Joe will have several announcements to make about up coming events.

-Stark

Band Practice!!!

Rehearsal is this Wednesday night. 7:00 p.m. start time. Weather looks good for Wednesday. And remember, free beer during the break!

PUT THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21! 7:00 p.m.


-Stark

Shrine Band Association of North America Competition.

http://www.shrinebandsna.com/FOM.htm

This sounds very interesting. :)

Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Ceremonial 2008

What a great weekend it was with over 70 new nobles made at the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple in Springfield, MO!!!

Another Hot Sands has come to pass and let me tell you, these new Nobles are incredible men. We are very lucky to have them and look forward to their participation in our clubs and units for 2009. We were lucky to have two candidates join our band to play during Ceremonial and are keeping our fingers crossed they will return to play some more.

Speaking of music, the Shrine Temple Band sounded great once again. We played some new tunes including a tribute to "South Pacific", "Scarborough Fair" and "My Sweet Angel", as well as some older favorites like "More Cowbell".

Whatever you do, do not forget the Temple Band Christmas Party around 6:30pm on Friday, December 12 in the lower level of the Shrine Mosque.

The menu...Ribeye steak, baked potato, green beans, salad and desert. All for the sum of $12.00 per person. The bar will be free as usual (whatever is left over from Ceremonial.) Be sure to let Joe and Sharon know ASAP if you can attend so they can have the right amount of food ready for our group.

We had a strong attendance for this year's ceremonial and our bar was very active this year. Thank you so much for our bar staff and their hard work. It was no small task to serve so many during this weekend's activities.

There will also be a Children's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 13th in the lower level of the Shrine from 1-3pm.

There will be no band practice in early January 2009, as there will be a business meeting at 7pm on Thursday, January 8th. The band will perform in their red jackets with Fezzes for this event in the lower level of the Shrine. The band will play around 6:30pm.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Fraternally yours,

Chris Bell