Thinking Big, Musically: Baltimore, Philly. Sanatoga? Yes!

From The Sanatoga Post:

SANATOGA PA – As a concert venue, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township is finding itself among some pretty elite company.

The U.S. Army Reserve’s 78th Army Band doesn’t play just anywhere, its commander, Warrant Officer Eric Flowers, can tell you. It often enjoys big crowds at big halls. Not surprisingly, then, during next week alone, the band is scheduled to play in Baltimore MD, Ocean City MD, Gettysburg PA, Philadelphia PA, Cape May NJ, and Haddonfield NJ.

Smack dab in the middle of that schedule – on July 13 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m., township receptionist Jennifer Corley reports – the 50-piece ensemble will strike up a series of patriotic tunes at Lower Pottsgrove’s own band shell in Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road, Pottstown Pa.

This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The band consists of soldiers from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and is posted from Fort Dix N.J. Its will be the second of several performances slated during the township’s summer concert series at the park, thanks to what Corley calls “generous” financial support and sponsorship from Exelon Nuclear. The series itself is conducted by the township Parks and Recreation Board.

It’s important to note that the band’s appearance is the only concert in the series NOT scheduled for a Sunday. Like all other performances this summer, it’s free and open to the public. Those planning to attend are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets.

Also scheduled in the series are:

July 17 (Sunday), 6 p.m., family fun night with The Paisley Pickles;

July 24 (Sunday), 6 p.m., Barbone Street Jazz Band;

July 31 (Sunday), 6 p.m., The Mango Men; and

Aug. 7 (Sunday), 6 p.m., Pottsgrove Community Band.

Editor's note: Due to the 2005 BRAC legislation, which merged three installations and consolidated four branches of military and U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Reserve’s 78th Army Band is now named Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, according to Bill Addison, media relations Chief, Public Affairs, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Learn more at: www.jointbasemdl.af.mil