The first performance to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. Is a community event open for anyone to attend. The show will be a traditional band concert with the band members sharing a little bit about what they do. Richter noted the band members also typically make themselves available after the show and enters the audience to meet people and answer questions. 

Master Sgt. Peter Dahlstrom, NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge), said the performance will also honor all the local veterans by playing their military songs and asking them to stand and be recognized because the country wouldn’t be what it is without the veterans doing what they did. 

“Sometimes it’s a fun opportunity to exchange service stories,” Richter said. “We find that a lot of folks in the audience are craving that connection with the uniform and their own service. Many of them are veterans and it’s always great to hear some of their service stories and be able to share some of ours as those commonalities there.” 

The second performance is a special concert exclusive to East Liverpool High School students and staff where students will have the opportunity to interact with band members for a question-and-answer session. It will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday. After the band plays, members will share with students’ stories about the Air Force and their experience and answer students’ questions.  

The United States Air Force Band of Flight will perform two concerts at East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School. (Submitted photo)

Dahlstrom said performances like this shows youth a different side of the military than what they may be used to seeing with just a recruiter.  

Both performances, which will be high energy shows, will take place at East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School, 100 Maine Blvd., and feature a variety of music for everyone including songs from the rock/pop and country genres along with patriotic songs. Both performances will also highlight the role of music in the military.  

Dahlstrom said there is going to be at least one song for everybody with the variety of music that will be performed. Everyone in the audience will be able to clap and sing along and have a good time.  

Some of the songs to be performed include Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” a cover of the Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle” and music by artists like Bruno Mars, Van Halen, Morgan Wallen and more.  

Richter said there are a total of seven Air Force Bands distributed across the county in the Continental U.S., with the Band of Flight being a small band stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and has been in continuous operation, performing since 1942.  

The band is comprised of 15 musicians with a rock band and a brass group and when they put both groups together, they have the Band of Flight which Richter said is a rock band with horns and a really cool band. 

It will be the full band performing at both East Liverpool concerts. 

He noted that those that live around Wright Patterson Air Force Base are familiar with the band and most have probably seen it before, but when they travel away from the base into areas where there are no military bases, band members may be the only military people residents in those areas may see in that day, month or year even.  

“We are there to go out there and tell the stories of military members and let them know that, hey, we’re all here and we are working for you,” Richter said. “Of course, we a have a piece in recruiting, so we do a lot of events that draw people and help our recruiters access our audiences.” 

Military bands such as the Band of Flight also exhibit that military service goes beyond war and defense and has a purpose in peace.  

“We are there to demonstrate the excellence you see throughout the Air Force,” Richter said. “The band is really great, but they are amazing and an awesome band.”  

Dahlstrom said the band allows the Air Force to expand on friendships they have with partners and help with the American public going places where people don’t see a lot of military and that is also a chance to show what they do and to give back 

Richter noted that when people hear the band perform, they see that it is a high-quality organization, and it may inspire them to check out the rest of the Air Force.  

“The other thing is, it shows as a demonstration to our audiences that there are a lot of careers that can be had in the Air Force,” Richter said. “It’s not just the few things you might imagine; most of us are not pilots in the Air Force.”  

He also said the band can expand peoples’ ideas as to what can be done in the Air Force with such a variety of jobs that allow people to follow their passions as the band members have and be of service to the country at the same time.  

“We’re incredibly excited to bring the United States Air Force Band of Flight to East Liverpool,” Megan Hoffrichter Hernandez, director of communication, East Liverpool City Schools said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to experience live music performed at the highest level, while also giving our community a chance to come together for an evening of outstanding entertainment. We are proud to host an event that celebrates both music and service.”