Judy Nail was stirred by the opening notes of “Into the Wild Blue Yonder” Monday night at a free concert in Honor Heights Park.

The 60-member band was made up of members of the Air National Guard Band of the Gulf Coast and the United States Air Force Band of the West Concert Band.

Nail, who was at the concert with her friend and former co-worker Belinda Wallis, said she really wanted to be there Monday after missing a previous music show at the park.

“I want to hear these people and support them,” she said. “I like that big band sound and maybe a little jazz. I think these outdoor events are a great opportunity.”

The second song was “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which brought everybody to their feet.

Marie Hughey said she and husband Dan drove 30 miles from Porum to sit in their folding chairs and enjoy the event because they are regulars at the park.

“Every chance we get, we come,” Marie said. “I love this music. I would go out to the high school when military bands would perform there.”

The warm temperatures didn’t discourage the couple.

“This is great weather,” Marie said. “We love the park. So music plus the park can’t be beat.”

Vickye Schaffer, at the concert with her husband Lee and their granddaughter Jennifer Schaffer, said her family always likes to come out to the park to hear the music.

“We always come out when Muskogee’s band plays,” she said. “We like the patriotic music, the old show tunes, and maybe they’ll play ‘Oklahoma!’”

The family was prepared for the summer weather with hand-held fans. Schaffer heartily endorsed the outdoor setting for the show.

“We love them; we just love them,” she said. “We’re very impressed with all the talent Muskogee has. And the fact that there’s something a family can do that is free.”

Just before the concert, conductor Major Jeff Matthews explained a little about the band.

“We want to bring the message of the U.S. Air Force to the public and help them celebrate America,” he said. “We go through a process of picking out a wide variety of music; classical, marches and patriotic songs.”

Matthews said the band gives about 300 performances per year all over the globe.

“Members of this band have deployed to southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,” he said. “Currently, members of the band are deployed on the USNS Comfort; a hospital ship that is on a humanitarian mission in Latin America.”





Reach Keith Purtell at 684-2925 or kpurtell @muskogeephoenix.com.