Amanda Sullivan
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Dec. 5, 2022) — After two years of cancellations and virtual performances due to the pandemic, the 399th Army Band is bringing their holiday celebration concert back with a bang — on the drums, that is.
The free concert, which is open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Nutter Field House.
“This will be the largest, professionally produced concert that the 399th has ever put on,” Band Commander Warrant Officer Brian Dorgan said. “My hope is that we can take a serious pause from our hectic lives to positively reflect and appreciate everything we have at Fort Leonard Wood. These last couple years have been hard. We want folks to go into the holiday season and holiday block leave with some good vibes, so they can come back safe, reenergized and ready to go, come the New Year.”
Passes will not be required for installation entry, but drivers must produce a valid state-issued driver’s license at the gate and state-issued identification for anyone in the vehicle 18 years of age and older, according to Installation Security Officer Richard Vise. Visitors will also need to state they are here for the concert upon arrival at the gate to gain installation access. More information on the installation access policy can be found here.
According to Dorgan, those attending the concert will have the chance to see the variety and versatility of the 399th Army Band through their performance of traditional and contemporary holiday music and witness the strong ties between Fort Leonard Wood and its surrounding communities.
“All of our music performance teams will be featured, including the brass quintet, woodwind quintet, jazz combo, rock band, brass band, big band and of course the full concert band,” he said. “The most-excellent Waynesville High School Choir will also be featured, and we will collaborate with them at the end for a holiday sing-along.”
Preceding the show, all concertgoers are also invited to the Fort Leonard Wood USO — located next door to Nutter Field House — for family friendly activities, including crafts and refreshments, beginning at 5 p.m., said Kelly Brownfield, Western Missouri Regional Operations director of the USO.
Dorgan said he hopes the concert will serve as a show of appreciation to the service members, families and communities across central Missouri, who worked tirelessly over the past two years.
“This time of year is all about family and showing appreciation for each other, for what we have and for what we’ve accomplished together this year,” Dorgan said. “We’re happy to partner with the USO this year to provide fun activities for families leading up to the performance.”
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission