ARVADA, Colo. (5/22/11) – Seating filled quickly in the Arvada High School auditorium for the Colorado National Guard’s 101st Army Band’s reunion performance in honor of Armed Forces Day on May 22.

“This is a special concert today because we have a gathering of alumni – a little more than 20 folks who are former members of the band who have come and rehearsed with us … and are performing with us in the concert,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Phillips, the commander of the 101st and euphonium player.

“Army Band concerts like this, I believe, are very important because we become the face of the military and of the Colorado National Guard to our citizens,” said Phillips. “It connects the members of the audience to the importance of what the service members are accomplishing now and have accomplished in the past. I think one of the most important elements of that is playing the Armed Forces Salute and allowing veterans who are in the audience to stand up and be acknowledged for their service in the military.”

Included in the performance was Retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stewart Lloyd Bowen, a former commander of the 101st.

“I’m amazed because they (now) have twice as many people as we did, and you have such a full sound,” said Bowen. “And the band is comprised of such fantastic musicians.”

Bowen originally joined the Colorado Army National Guard in 1941 as a corporal in the 101st and played the trumpet, and became the first sergeant of the band in 1948. One year later, Bowen took an exam to become a warrant officer and passed, making him the commander of the band. He stayed in that position until 1965, when he retired from military service.

“I was talking with one of the (current) members of the band, and I was telling him how great it was to have this kind of camaraderie … there’s something about the 101st Army Band that is something special.”

That camaraderie has become a legacy of the band. “Friday night we were able to hold a reunion of former commanders and first sergeants of the band,” said Phillips. “Between the first sergeants and commanders, we were able to cover the entire history of this unit being designated the 101st Army Band.”

Phillips said they spent close to two hours just talking and sharing stories and it’s a shame that they aren’t able to do similar functions every year.

“I think if I was going to add anything, it would be to tell these people that this is the time of their lives that they’re going to remember when they’ve left the band,” says Bowen. “And when they get to an older time in their life, they’re going to look back and say, ‘I made such wonderful friends, and I think these friends mean more to me then the ones I’ve met along the way.’”