Piccolo Spoleto’s annual Memorial Day concert brings a new feel this year as it honors America’s fallen soldiers while also celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.
The 90-minute concert will open with a moment of remembrance for those who have died for this country, followed by songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” The band, made up of volunteer musicians, is prepared to come together for what it describes as an afternoon filled with memory and love.
The free Memorial Day concert will be held May 25 at 3 p.m. at Hampton Park.
For Bill Perry, a volunteer coordinator and past band member of the concert, Memorial Day is all about patriotism and the importance of showing pride for the country, as well as honoring the lives lost.
“The music that’s part of the celebration is timeless,” Perry said. “On this day of lots of bad news in the world, it’s a respite for people to come out on Memorial Day or the Fourth of July and celebrate what’s good about America.”
Charleston’s rich history
Memorial Day holds a lot of history in Charleston. Originally called “Decoration Day,” it was first widely observed on May 30, 1868. But on May 1, 1865, following the end of the Civil War, a gathering organized by freed slaves honored fallen Union troops.
The soldiers originally died in a Confederate prison camp, which once was the Washington Race Course and Jockey Club. They were buried in a mass grave in the area that is now Hampton Park. Emancipated Charlestonians unearthed the soldiers and gave them a proper burial. Afterward, schoolchildren sang “John Brown’s Body” and placed flowers on their graves.
“For years the Memorial Day concert was downtown at Marion Square,” Perry said. “John Tecklenburg, when he was mayor, made the brilliant decision to move it to Hampton Park.”
Perry emphasized the distinction of Memorial Day, as some may get it confused with Veterans Day. He pointed out that Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring military members who have died, while Veterans Day honors all military, living or dead.
America’s 250th
What makes this year’s Memorial Day concert even more special is the commemoration of America’s 250th birthday. As the country prepares to celebrate this milestone, this Memorial Day may feel all the more patriotic.
Specifically for this year, new pieces were added to the setlist in honor of the anniversary.
“In a nod to honoring our country’s historic milestones, we will be performing a march by John Philip Sousa that was written in 1881 for the centennial celebration of the victory at Yorktown in 1781,” said Basil Kerr, the conductor of the Charleston Concert Band.
“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” will be performed by Courtney Williams, who was known as “The Voice of the Navy” and served 26 years in the Navy. He is also the announcer for this program.
In late June 1776, British warships attacked Fort Sullivan, which was located just outside of Charleston. Soldiers successfully defended the fort and repelled British forces in what became the patriot’s first major naval victory of the Revolutionary War. The fort is now known as Fort Moultrie, named after Col. William Moultrie, who led the patriots.
Music bringing people together
America’s 250th birthday is a reminder of the people who fought for this country – and of the 250 years of history, memories and lessons.
“What that means for us today is we need to see if we can rediscover and rekindle that spirit of liberty and independence,” Kerr said.
Kerr wants attendees to feel inspired and uplifted at this event, remembering that America is a family.
“As divisive as the world has become with us, there aren’t a whole lot of things that unite us,” he said. “But some of these tunes are tunes we’ve all grown up with, we’ve heard them before. They are things that are common to us all.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO:
The Memorial Day concert will be May 25 at 3 p.m. at Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Drive. It is a completely free event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.
Madelyn Taylor is an arts journalism and communications graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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