| 1st-Ever Beyond Tribute / NYC Veterans Day Parade of Pride Band Performance |
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| Written by Melinda Marinoff, Official Marching Band Sponsor, New York City Veterans Day Parade | |
| Thursday, 08 October 2009 | |
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In a first-of-its-kind salute to the millions of men and women who have served America past and present as members of the various military branches, nearly 1,000 high school musicians from across the country will demonstrate their own patriotic spirit and commitment to service in the “Beyond Tribute / NYC Veterans Day Parade of Pride” concert on Tuesday, November 10 in New York City. In the pre-Veterans Day morning concert in the world-famous Times Square, the students will perform a medley of patriotic anthems to remind the nation that the holiday is more than a day off from school and a great day for mall shopping. Rather, it is a day to honor the sacrifices made by the members of the Armed Services in the name of freedom and democratic ideals. The program, which serves as a rousing prelude to the City’s 90th Annual Veterans Day Parade up Fifth Avenue the next day, is the launch event of Beyond Tribute’s 11/11 Campaign, a national effort to engage ordinary Americans in a historic movement to benefit American war veterans. To do so, the Campaign will seek to marshal the collective generosity of the nation’s citizenry to raise millions of dollars in a single day for veterans’ causes. “Imagine if we as a nation would all unite for this cause. Imagine if each of us pledged to donate $11 on 11/11, Veterans Day,” said Matthew Boulay, a former Marine who served in the Iraq war and who helped establish Beyond Tribute, the concert’s sponsoring organization. “The incredible nature of such a collective act would be unprecedented in terms of raising awareness of the plight of returning veterans, particularly those who continue to suffer the invisible wounds of war, all the while raising millions of dollars to ensure that these veterans get the help they need and deserve.” Beyond Tribute, a non-profit, is the first nationwide grassroots initiative specifically designed to leverage the Veterans Day and Memorial Day holidays to support veterans affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other neurological problems. The organization aims to redefine these two holidays by engaging both the American business community and its customers in a massive effort to turn holiday sales promotions into fundraising engines that actually help wounded veterans and their families. Hundreds of thousands of veterans – including more than 300,000 from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – suffer from PTSD, TBI, and other related ailments. As a result, their rates of unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, family conflict, and suicide are alarmingly high. Funds raised by Beyond Tribute go directly to top rated charities that help these veterans throughout the country. Among the organizations that have received grants thus far are U.S. VETS, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project. The organization was founded by Paul Schneeberger, a director and writer, and Walter Stugis, an executive at the Institute for Nonprofit Excellence in NY, with support from legendary financier and World War II veteran Jerome Kohlberg. It is endorsed by a bevy of military and veterans groups, including Student Veterans of America, Gold Star Mothers, Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Veterans of Modern Warfare, as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors. And its Advisory Board includes such notables as architect Frank O. Gehry, Gore Vidal, producer/director Judd Apatow, and actress Kim Catrall. “Hundreds of thousands of returning veterans continue to suffer, long after the fighting on the battle field ends,” said Schneeberger. “They continue to battle to readjust to society, often defined by disabilities and health problems, and far too often, they are marginalized and forgotten. We are dedicated to ensuring that they get the help they have earned and deserve. Our concert on November 10 in Times Square in New York is an ideal way for younger generations to honor them and thank them for their service, while raising awareness of the issues.” The concert, which will also include the participation of the U.S. Army Jazz Band, will be in NYC’s historic Father Duffy Square. The high school band members and the Army band will play a variety of patriotic anthems for a large audience of veterans, band members’ families, and passersby. Kenneth W. Dye, director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Notre Dame, will be the lead conductor of the musical tribute. Melinda Marinoff, President of NYC Group Tours, the parade’s official marching band sponsor and concert partner, believes that participating in the program and performing in the parade “helps the way students see the world and gives them an opportunity to change it. It’s a way to honor service and pay tribute to our veterans who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we hold dear.” Added Vincent McGowan, president of the United War Veterans’ Council of New York County, the presenting organization of the city’s Veterans Day Parade, “For nine decades, our parade has been the iconic symbol of New York's profound commitment to those who served, protecting our freedom. From its modest beginnings, the parade has been a reflection of NYC's sense of patriotism, community spirit and respect for the flag. The Beyond Tribute concert is a magnificent prelude to our event, and we look forward to an inspiring program.” For more information on Beyond Tribute and the NYC Veterans Day Parade of Pride Concert, visit beyondtribute.org. |
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