Saluting veterans at the NPAC

This Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day — a day we set aside to honor those who have served our country to protect our freedoms and way of life in America.  At the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, the Van Wert City Schools and we will do our part to celebrate this day in an appropriate fashion.

Thursday of this week (November 10), Van Wert High School will present a program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Students and faculty will participate and they would like to welcome the public to attend. In particular, they would like to see veterans and their family members attend so they may recognize them for their sacrifices. I believe it is admirable of our schools to make sure their students, our youth, grow to respect and remember those who serve our country. Feel free to come out to the NPAC for this free program, which is open to the public.

Then on Sunday, November 13, the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight from Wright Patterson Air Force Base returns to The Van Wert County Foundation Saltzgaber Music Hall to perform a concert they entitle “Freedom’s Call.” The Times-Bulletin is partnering with the NPAC to present this very special military concert at 3 p.m.  “The mission of the United States Air Force Band of Flight is to deliver world-class musical products that inspire emotions, create positive impressions and communicate information according to Air Force objectives for the defense of the United States of America.”

Anyone who has attended one of its programs in the past knows this to be true!

Major R. Michael Mench, who assumed command of the Band of Flight on July 22, 2008, returns to conduct this special concert as part of the band’s tour throughout the Midwest.  We are extremely honored to have them select the Niswonger Performing Arts Center as one of their stops once again.  I have told them, as I have all military organizations, that they are always welcome at the NPAC.  VWHS Band Director Robert Sloan has also forged a relationship with Major Mench and we appreciate Mr. Sloan’s contributions.

The program will include some very special arrangements for this Veterans Day concert. Your pride will soar as you hear the band’s meticulous artistry and passionate sounds of military tributes, vocal solos, and of course, marches you will love.

This is a free, but ticketed concert. All tickets were distributed within the first week of distribution. The military tells presenters to distribute 25 percent more tickets than seats because, in many places they perform, people do not use their tickets. Knowing Van Wert County and surrounding areas, we know how much our people appreciate the military and so we feel most everyone will use their tickets.  If you were not able to get a ticket in time, you might show up and if there are any seats left right before the concert starts, we will try to seat you.

In order to accommodate this date you need to know that Michelle Stoller, who is the drama director at Van Wert High School, had to make special arrangements for the hall to open up for the Air Force band. Students and crew have been busy preparing for the One-Act Plays that will occur the following week on Thursday and Friday, November 17 and 18.  Students have been on stage building sets and rehearsing.

We appreciate their sacrifice and extra work to make the stage available for this concert on Sunday.  If you have the chance to attend their plays the next week, I would encourage you to check them out. Mrs. Stoller has done a wonderful job preparing these students and their performances just get better and better each year.

I hope you did your American duty and voted Tuesday and then I hope you can attend one or both of these Veterans Day programs later this week — all free and all at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.

FINÉ.