Air Force's Premier Honor Guard, Band invited to Macy's Parade

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tabitha N. Haynes
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, VA. (AFNS) --  The Air Force's Premier Honor Guard and Band received an invitation to participate for a national audience in an American tradition.

Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Darren W. McDew, along with Col. A. Philip Waite, the Air Force Band commander, and Lt. Col. Raymond Powell, the Air Force Honor Guard commander, accepted the invitation June 3 to participate in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The invitation was presented to the three commanders at the memorial preceding the opening concert of the Air Force Band's Summer Concert Series.

"On behalf of everyone at Macy's, it gives us great pleasure to officially announce the U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard have been selected to represent the U.S. Air Force and perform in New York City in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," said Wesley Whatley, the director of the band program for the Macy's Day Parade. "We at Macy's believe in the power of music. We believe in the music we are going to hear tonight -- patriotic music. We believe in that music's ability to inspire, and the ability of patriotic music to unite a nation."

The Air Force Band and Air Force Honor Guard are two of 12 marching units invited to participate in the 2012 Thanksgiving Day events.

"It's huge," Colonel Powell said. "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the granddaddy of them all, and when we found out that we were going to be invited, it was massive. It is a very, very big deal for the Air Force Honor Guard."

The Air Force Honor Guard plans to march an inaugural size unit of 81 guard members in what's called a nine-by-nine formation. The nine-by-nine unit stands nine Airmen wide and nine Airmen deep.

"We started the tradition of doing community-based parades," Colonel Powell said. "We didn't do those parades before. We have built our capability up. All of the work that went into putting together that parade element, to putting together that capability is going to culminate in the 2011 Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is very special because we're able to do this with the band."

The Air Force Band plans to send an inaugural size unit as well, consisting of approximately 100 performers. This is the second time the Air Force Band has been represented in the parade. The Airmen of Note ensemble attended the parade in 1994 and interacted with the crowd while riding on a float.

"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American icon," Colonel Waite said. "We are thrilled with this unique opportunity to represent our Air Force in this parade which evokes such a strong sense of home and national pride."

Following the invitation, General McDew spoke to the audience.

"I am humbled to accept this invitation on behalf of the thousands of men and women in the Air Force, their family members and civilians," General McDew said. "Each of you are the reason I love serving in the Air Force Today. I believe this opportunity for our Band and Honor Guard will give the Air Force and outstanding venue to showcase outstanding people."

Concluding the presentation of the invitation, the commanders, along with the audience, enjoyed the first performance of the 2011 Summer Concert Series presented by the Air Force Band.

"When they see the Air Force Honor Guard and the Air Force Band marching across that red carpet on Thanksgiving Day, they will see the precision and excellence of every Airman in the Air Force," Colonel Powell said. "It's going to present a tremendous sight and sound picture to the nation."