Marching Band and Veterans Community Center Join Forces

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - On Saturday, November 12, 2022, the Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center welcomed 35 members of the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band (CHCMB) and director Kody Tickner, for their first joint venture, a patriotic concert honoring all veterans.

Despite the cool weather, the concert was held in the Center’s outdoor multipurpose horseshoe pit area. Band members lined the wooden fence between them and a townhome community, with brass horns of all shapes and sizes, along with flutes and piccolos and drums. Sitting higher, level with the parking lot were several versions of standing xylophones and even giant windchimes.

Dozens of Center veterans, their families, staff, friends and community members experienced the thrill of hearing the CHCMB up close and personal for over an hour. Neighbors and those walking and driving by were treated to the concert as well. Many honked!

The audience enjoyed thirteen patriotic tunes beginning with the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and ‘God Bless America’ to Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ and of course the ‘Armed Forces Medley’ which includes the anthem for all six military branches, and now includes the Space Force anthem, completed the concert.

This performance is just one way the band has served the community since 2005, when it was created to fill the need for a marching band in Citrus Height’s annual July parade. When the parade dissolved the Cooks took their show to venues throughout the county and beyond.

This new partnership fits perfectly into the purpose of both organizations, to serve their community: the Veterans Center being there for its veterans and the band being there to entertain and help preserve the love of music for future generations.  

Six band members are veterans, Bob Martinez, age 92 and the oldest member of the band served in the US Army in Korea. One word is used to describe Bob: Energy! Steve Iwata, Bill Hartley and Joe Isaacs served in the U.S. Army. Larry Breckinridge served in the U.S. Navy and Dave Newberry US Air Force.  Executive Director Bill Cook served in the U.S, Army from 1970-1972.

Jim Rounsavell co-founder with his wife, Jeanne, served for six years in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force, serving in WWII and Korea until 1952.

The band now rehearses at the Bill and Kathy Cook Performing Arts Center, a 3,500 square foot rehearsal hall and recording studio at 8436 Jewel Way, built by Bill Cook. Kathy Cook, co-founder of the band passed away in August of 2021, just weeks prior to the building’s completion.

Following the concert, the Center formally ‘retired’ dozens of retired flags in a ceremony where they were respectfully burned. Some attendees brought their children to learn about the practice and safely participate in it.

For more information on the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band and Citrus Heights Community Veterans Center visit their Facebook page, or at veteranscommunitycenterch.com / band at the Citrus Heights City website at www.citrusheights.net.