By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
The triumphs and sacrifices of American soldiers will be commemorated in a special Veterans Day concert by Amarillo Master Chorale.
The "Battle Cries of Freedom" concert begins at 5 p.m. Saturday at Polk Street United Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St.
AMC artistic director Nathaniel Fryml said the concert was "conceived as a brief history of American war music" and "features fabulous arrangements of popular folk tunes related to the various conflicts our nation has endured."
Among the works to be performed are Battle Hymn of theRepublic, Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor and a premiere performance of Fryml's Home of the Brave, as well as a tribute to the armed services. An ensemble of percussion and brass players will perform with the chorale.
"As the Panhandle community comes together to participate in this celebratory event, it is our great hope that many young people will be present to share with us in recounting the history of service and ultimate sacrifice that has shaped who we are as a nation today," Fryml said. "We hope that, by honoring the men and women of this community who have stood up to defend our homeland, some light may be shed on a path forward through the conflicts we currently face both at home and abroad."
The chorale is in its 38th season, featuring a select adult ensemble in partnership with Amarillo College.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students in advance, and $20 and $7 at the door. The concert is free for all military veterans, but reservations are requested.
Call 806-371-5344.
Other Veterans Day events include:
- Veterans Day Parade: Celebrate the holiday at a parade that runs north on Polk Street from 11th Avenue to Fifth Avenue. (9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, downtown Amarillo. Free. 806-433-0864 or 806-513-9997)
- Armistice Day: Commemorate the 100th anniversary of America's entry into World War I at this Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum event. (11 a.m. Saturday, PPHM, 2503 Fourth Ave. Free. 806-651-2806)
- Veterans Day ceremony: The Texas Panhandle War Memorial will host a Veterans Day commemoration ceremony at Randall County Veterans Park, with a presentation of colors, a flyover by Blue Sky Honor Flight and remarks by U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas). Chuck Alexander, Mary Lyn Halley and Dean Yates of Insufficient Funds will sing the national anthem. (11 a.m. Saturday, Randall County Veterans Park, 4101 S. Georgia St. Free. 806-674-0495)
- Welcome Home Veterans: This event celebrates contributions of Amarillo-area vets with free kids activities, prizes, free hamburgers and hot dogs, and music. (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Rex Baxter Building on the Tri-State Fairgrounds; free. 806-355-9703, ext. 7112)
- MIAs on Tiger Mountain: Join Amarillo Museum of Art for a screening of this documentary by Norman Lloyd about a quest to find six soldiers lost in a battle at A Shau Valley in Vietnam, in conjunction with AMoA's ongoing exhibitions about the country. (2 p.m. Saturday, AMoA, 2200 S. Van Buren St. Free. 806-371-5050)
- Veterans Ball: Stephen Tamm, coordinator of Veterans' Services at Lewis-Clark State College, will speak at this annual event, which also features live and silent auctions and music from Insufficient Funds. (5 p.m. Saturday, WT Jack B. Kelley Student Center Legacy Hall. $100 couples, $60 individuals general admission; $80 couples, $45 individuals for veterans; $50 couples, $30 individuals for WT students; $1,000 tables or $500 student tables. 806-651-2070)
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
