Today is our 75th birthday!
The official history of the 122nd Army Band begins on June 1, 1944, in the Philippines in the midst of World War II. Combining members of multiple other Army bands, the new 37th Infantry Division Band was poised for a long and rich history. Through the numerous conflicts and national transformations that have followed, the 122nd has supported and entertained audiences at home and abroad for 75 years.
In that time we've traveled the state, the nation, and the globe, and earned our fair share of awards and accolades along the way. The Soldier-Musicians of the 122nd Army Band have been honored all these years to play for visiting heads of state, alongside world-famous orchestras, at professional sporting events, in somber moments of remembrance, and all along for the Soldiers of the Ohio Army National Guard and the people of Ohio. Along the way the 122nd has earned numerous awards and citations, including a Meritorious Unit Citation and twice winning the Army-wide Music Performance Team of the Year competition.
We couldn't have done any of this without all of you. Our unending and sincere thanks goes out to all the Soldiers that have served in the 37th Infantry Division Band, 122nd Army Band, and 555th Air Force Band for their loyal and dedicated service to our state and nation; to our families for their love and support; to all the civilian employers of our Soldiers for understanding and flexibility in accommodating our service; to our commanders for enabling our mission to support our troops and promote the message of the Ohio National Guard; and to the people of the great state of Ohio for coming to our performances year after year.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much. Because of your support we get to bring the joy of music to our troops and the public — there's nothing we'd rather be doing.
It's been an exciting 75 years for the 122nd Army Band, Army Music, and the Ohio National Guard, and there's still so much to do. Here's to the next 75!
