APPOMATTOX — As he leaned against his conductor’s stand, Col. Arnald D. Gabriel wiped a tear from his eye. The 91 year old World War II veteran, who was part of the U.S. Army’s 29 th Infantry Division talked about how his parents came to America from Italy many years ago.
Their patriotism, he said, is what makes the Fourth of July so important to him.
“ I do this as an honor to my mom and dad,” Gabriel said. “[They] really loved this country.”
So it was only fitting that on Saturday night Gabriel led The Grand Band of the Potomac’s performance at the “Salute to America” celebration at Appomattox County High School.
Ushers handed out American flags to the audience of over 100 people as the auditorium lights glowed red, white and blue in honor of the national holiday.
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The event was part of a Fourth of July celebration hosted by Liberty Baptist Church which Pastor Rusty Small said his church has been doing on and off for the last 10 years. This is the first year the church has done something focused on veterans and those currently serving.
“ We wanted to do a July 4th event that added a central focus…not just a big party,” Small said. “Quite a few veterans have told me they appreciate the tribute [to] them.”
Small said through Google he was able to find this year’s band and event speaker. He’d been looking for people willing to be part of an event like this for a number of years, he said.
“ [The guests] were exceptionally nice and willing to come,” he said.
Before the show, audience member William Callahan said when he played in an orchestra, he loved playing the military marches, noting his love of patriotism.
“ It gave you this good feeling,” he said.
The band played an hour long concert and just before playing “Hymn to the Fallen,” which was written by John Williams for the movie “Saving Private Ryan,” Gabriel asked the audience not to clap. Instead, he asked for a moment of silence to remember those who had given their lives for this country.
At intermission Appomattox native and U.S. Army Major General Robert M. Dyess Jr. spoke about the army’s history and his 34-year military career. Outside, guests admired military vehicles put on display by the National Guard.
Dyess said in 10 th grade he figured the military would be a career option for him. He applied to a few colleges and was accepted into West Point which he graduated from in 1982.
“ I said I would stay in as long as I liked it,” Dyess said of his military career. “And I still do.”
Contact Tobi Walsh at (434) 385-5530 or twalsh@newsadvance.com.
