FReeper Canteen ~ Honoring Women Military Bands ~ 20 February 2007

Internet ^ | February 19, 2001 | Soaring Feather

[Soaring Feather]

Today, we honor, Women Military Bands.


400th WAC Band
Source:Women's World War II Military Bands

Good Morning, Troops!
Thank You for your service!

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FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

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On July 20, 1942, the first contingent of women was inducted into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. By early 1943, five bands, the 400th Army Band, 401st Army Band , 402d Army Band, 403d Army Band, and the 404th Army Band were composed entirely of women. WAAC bands were later redesignated and officially activated in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on January 21, 1944.


Eventually the only Army Band made up entirely of women, was the 14th Army WAC Band, activated at Fort Meade, Maryland in August 1948. The 14th reported to the Women's Army Corps Training Center at Camp Lee in March the following year. Its commander was WOJG Katherine V. Allen, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music. She also attended the Boston Conservatory, University of Virginia, and The College of William and Mary. Under WOJG Allen's command the 14th Army WAC Band toured many different regions including the Fifth Army area of responsibility, Hollywood, California, and the Rose Bowl Parade in 1951.

The very first military all women band, the Women's Army Band organized at Fort Des Moines in 1942, was led by then Sergeant Mary Belle Nissly. As a result of special legislation, early in 1944 WAC Sergeant Nissly became the first woman in military history to win a warrant officer band leader appointment.


Warrant Officer Nissly left the Army in 1946 but returned to the service as a Captain in the Air Force in 1951 to organize the United States Air Force WAF Band.


The 50 member concert unit performed all over the world playing everything from classics to rock and roll and mambos to marches. Their home base was Norton AFB in California but they were on the road 70% of the time. Unique to the WAF band was the only woman coach horn soloist in the USA - Technical Sgt Martye Awkerman, pictured above in the shadow image.


In the mid 1950's the WAF band played in New York City and as an Air Force recruiting sergeant at the time, I had the pleasure of being their escort. When they played at the dress rehersal of the Garry Moore Show the program's orchestra "vacated the orchestra pit" and invited the WAF Band to take the stage and play for the show. Circumventing the musician's union rules this way was a grand tribute to the WAF band.

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Please remember The Canteen is a cyber home for our Troops, check your politics at the door.
All information comes from the Internet.

[El Gran Salseron]

( Shhhhh.....now let's see if I can get back in her good graces and get hired again. )

Happy Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Fatima!!!!!

[MeekMom]

Happy Birthday Cody!!!

[MeekMom]

Happy Anniversary!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, MM...it's cold here! How are you doing?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, ms feather, for today's Canteen Blessing for the Troops.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your contuined service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

HAPPY BELATED WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, FATIMA!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CODY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning, Kathy.

How nice that Ashlie has arrived, hope you have had a wonderful chat.

[E.G.C.]

Morning coffee bump

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

BLESS THIS HOUSE

 Bless this house O Lord we pray; Make it safe by night and day; 
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove ever open to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within, keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we May dwell O Lord with thee. 

(Click on graphics for music)

[Soaring Feather]

You're welcome Star.

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks Mayor for the link. ;)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, ms feather.

A couple months ago she said she was coming for a month. I thought she was coming in March. Oops....so she came over for dinner, and then it turned to the "clean sweep" of my bedroom. Over the month we are going to do a makeover...this should be interesting, and she is really excited. d:o)

[Soaring Feather]

Lovely flowers, thank you.

So you got a surprise, eh?? Oh well, all will work out fine.

We are having a little warming trend today, not for long gonna get chilly again for a bit.

[Kathy in Alaska]

These Marines are cool.

<

[Soaring Feather]

They sure are. Awesome to be a Lady Marine. ;)

[Pusterfuss]

Good morning Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I didn't realize that we had gotten cold again until I went to take her home.

And we had a yearling and momma in the yard on Saturday. They both took naps.

[Soaring Feather]

Oh, how precious! That's the school yard across the way, right?

They are so big!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Pusterfuss...((HUGS))...we've decided to drop below zero tonight. Are you warming up any?