High School Band Wants Military Photos for Upcoming Show

The Stow-Munroe Falls High School Wind Ensemble needs your help to honor local members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The band, joined this year by the high school choir, will perform its annual show honoring local military members on April 27.

Brian Monroe, director of the band, said they're looking for as many photos of Stow and Munroe Falls residents or alumni who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces for a tribute during the show.

"The concert’s actually two-part," Monroe said. "It’s kind of relaxed American music, and the second half is all patriotic. And as part of that we have always had people send in photographs … and we display those pictures as part of the presentation."

During this year's tribute, the band will play "Hero for Today," which has been played by the U.S. Army Band.

The rest of the show, titled "Heroes and Legends, an American Celebration," includes the following songs: I’ll be Seeing You; With Malice Towards None, a piece about Abraham Lincoln; Battle Hymn of the Republic, which will include the choir; Our America, a medley also featuring the choir; and the show is capped with a performance of The Star Spangled Banner.

In addition, the show will include music from popular film series Indiana Jones, James Bond and Mission Impossible.

"It’s the first time that we’ve included the choir with it, so we’re really looking forward to having the choir join us," Monroe said.

To have your loved one's photo shown as part of the concert, email a photo (minimum 300dpi) to Brian Monroe, SMFHS Band director at st_monroe@smfcsd.org. You can also drop photos off at the high school.

The 60-person band and 80-member choir will perform at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Monroe said they're hopeful to fill the room, which seats 1,000, for the annual show, which itself has been a tradition for more than 10 years.

"We’ve gotten, I would say easily in the 600-800 range," Monroe said. "We’d love to fill the place. That’s always our goal.

"I think people of all ages will like it," he said. "There’s something there for the little kids, there's something there for the adults and there's something there for the grandparents."