The all-volunteer Aurora American Legion Band will conclude its 2024 season at 3 p.m. Sunday with a free concert at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 85 S. Constitution Drive on Aurora’s West Side.
The concert is free to attend, however, donations to the band are greatly appreciated, band officials said.
The band, formed in 1937, honors those actively serving in the military and veterans that served in the United States Armed Forces. The band primarily performs in the summer months, appearing in area parades and performing concerts at venues around the Fox Valley, band officials said in a press release about the concert.
“We look forward to once again hosting our final concert of the season indoors at St. Paul Lutheran Church,” said band President Greg Probst in the release.
The band pays tribute to America’s military by playing patriotic standards and selections steeped in Americana, band officials said. The band is known for closing each performance with a “Salute to the Services,” a medley of military service tunes transcribed by former member the late Mike LaGow, and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The band is led by conductor Patty Sampson, who recently retired after her 30th year of teaching and her 19th year at West Aurora High School.
Aurora native Greg Hensel is the band’s associate conductor and a trumpet section member. He is in his 12th year of teaching high school band.
In preparation for next year’s season, the band is actively seeking veterans who are musicians to join as playing members, according to the release.