Band plays, audience rocks at space shuttle finale

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Airman 1st Class Jill Diem, a vocalist with the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's High Flight, sings July 21, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., during an event celebrating the final landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis and 30 years of NASA's space shuttle program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Candice Allen)
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Band plays, audience rocks at space shuttle finale

Posted 7/27/2011 Updated 7/27/2011

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by Candice Allen
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

7/27/2011 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- High Flight, the newest ensemble of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, performed at the final landing of Shuttle Atlantis July 21 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

The landing marked the end of NASA's space shuttle program.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to perform at this event," said Master Sgt. John Link, the NCO in charge of High Flight. "The space program has been around my whole life, and the band grew up watching the program evolve. To be a part of this celebration and make history really means a lot to us."

More than 3,300 NASA employees packed the event to witness the final landing and hear the Reserve band perform.

"I've been a part of the space shuttle program for a while and with it coming to an end, it is very patriotic to have the Band of the Air Force Reserve playing," said Kenneth McElroy, a NASA aerospace technician. "It brings something that's been totally phenomenal to an awesome end."

Because this was the final curtain for the shuttle program, Link said he wanted to ensure the focus was kept on the positive side.

"We hope that this became a celebration," he said. "There is a lot of history here, and we really wanted to focus on the happy aspect, and the significant accomplishments of the shuttle program."

"We wanted to help everyone celebrate the final flight and not focus on the ending of the program, but rather on the successes of the program through the years," he added.

The ensemble performed a variety of songs, from today's artists like Alicia Keyes, to classics like Al Green, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

"If I were grading the band on a chart of one to 10, I would probably go off the charts, and they would be an 11," McElroy said.

The crowd danced to the music.

"I was surprised with the audience involvement because it was so hot, but people were line dancing, disco dancing," said Airman 1st Class Jill Diem, a High Flight vocalist. "Some guy was doing the robot; they really got into it, which of course is such a thrill as a musician to see the audience give back. We were very happy to see such enthusiasm."

Space Shuttle Atlantis completed its 33rd and final mission landing at the Kennedy Space Center's shuttle landing facility. It was the 20th night landing at KSC and the 26th night landing in the history of the space shuttle program.

The Band of the United States Air Force Reserve is the oldest band, active or reserve, assigned to the Air Force, having continued from its formation in 1941 to the present without a break in service. The band was formed Oct. 1, 1941, at Mitchell Field, N.Y., as the First Air Force Band. The Reserve band moved to Robins Air Force Base in April 1961.

More information about the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and High Flight can be found at www.usafreserveband.af.mil.