Iowa Lakes Music Students Honor Veterans at Clay County Fair

(Estherville, Iowa) Iowa Lakes Music Department students shared their musical talents to honor veterans at the Veteran’s Program at the Clay County Events Center on Monday, September 13.

“We love playing for the Veterans!  We love honoring them with our musical performance. It’s just a little thing we can do to give back to them for serving our country,” shared Carol Ayres, Music Professor at Iowa Lakes Community College.

The Iowa Lakes Community College Men’s Ensemble, Jazz Band, Women’s Ensemble, Handbells, and Concert Choir shared many patriotic musical pieces celebrating America and honoring veterans at the concert.

The Iowa Lakes Concert Choir performed the “National Anthem” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The Iowa Lakes Jazz Band and Concert Choir performed a “Tribute to Armed Services,” a medley of official U.S. military songs including “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” “The Marines’ Hymn,” “Semper Paratus” (Coast Guard), “Anchors Aweigh” (Navy) and “The U.S. Air Force.”

The Jazz Band also played “Amber Waves” before joining the Iowa Lakes Handbells and the audience for “God Bless America.” The Iowa Lakes Women’s Ensemble performed “Travelin’ Soldier,” the Iowa Lakes Men’s Ensemble sang “Who are the Brave,” and the Handbells played “God Bless the U.S.A.”

Austin Connerley, a freshman trumpet player from Charles City, and Louis Wiley, a freshman trumpet player from Webster, SD, rendered a heartfelt version of TAPS to complete the program.