On Thursday, July 9, 2015, 1st Nebraska appeared in concert in Columbus, NE. We helped rededicate the town’s 115 year old Civil War monument, and played a concert in Frankfort Square before a large and appreciative audience. The weather was perfect for an outdoor concert, temperature about 80 degrees with a light breeze and low humidity.
Assisting in the monument rededication were members of the Sons of the Union Veterans who provided an honor guard and firing party for three musket volleys. Also participating was the granddaughter of the main speaker at the original monument dedication in 1900. For the ceremony the band performed “The Star Spangled Banner” and E-flat Cornetist Richard Cunningham played “Taps.”
The original monument was damaged in the large hail storm of 2013 and required new granite to restore the obelisk as well as a newly crafted eagle to mount atop the structure.
1st Nebraska also played a one-hour concert that included patriotic songs of both the North and the South, popular songs of the day, and a quickstep assembled from arias in Verdi’s opera Nabucco. The concert concluded with the haunting refrains of “Tenting on the Old Campground.”
We had a great time meeting the public, members of the Sons of the Union Veterans, and local officials including the Mayor of Columbus and the Curator of the Platte County Historical Society Museum. We look forward to returning to Columbus some day soon.
1st Nebraska Volunteers Brass Band 