CW2 Russell J. Houser, U.S. Army Bandmaster and Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division "All American" Band was the scheduled speaker at the Cary Town Band's July 3rd Independence Eve celebration at Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, Cary, NC. His presentation, entitled "Band in Sand", would recount his band's recent deployment in Afghanistan providing music for soldiers stationed there and working with Afghani musicians, sharing music and traditions with their American counterparts.

A fire at Fort Bragg, NC Friday afternoon July 2nd destroyed the band's rehearsal location including all their instruments, uniforms, and their entire music library. Because his band was to provide a major portion of Fort bragg's July 4th celebration, two days later, bandmaster Houser's priorities immediately and completely understandably shifted from being a guest speaker at the CTB concert to finding music, instruments, and all the infrastructure required for his band to meet their concert obligations at Fort Bragg. Within minutes after the fire was reported, Houser had contacted CTB director Stuart Holoman to explain the situation and begin finding needed music and instruments. By the afternoon of July 3rd Houser reported his surprise and sincere gratitude for the outpouring of assistance offered from both military and area community sources. He expressed his regret for having to miss the CTB concert, where he was also going to have the unusual opportunity to play his French horn and not just conduct. As schedules and assignments allow, he has already been invited to speak at next year's Independence Eve celebration by the CTB.

The time allotted for his presentation was filled by adding an additional piece not included in the original CTB program - Pirates of the Caribbean Suite by Klaus Badelt, music from the movie The Curse of the Black Pearl. There was a "song & dance" explanation added as to how "Pirates of the Caribbean" actually complimented the concert theme - Band in Sand - something about a "band of pirates on sandy beaches of Caribbean islands".

As circumstances allow, the 82nd Airborne Division "All American" Band is tentatively scheduled to present a joint concert themed In the Army Now with the Cary Town Band at 7:30 PM on Friday everning September 10, 2010, at a venue in Cary yet to be finalized.

It is with great sadness that members of the Cary Town Band received word on Sunday July 26, 2009 of the passing of Mildred Wade Phelps at the age of 90. Mildred served as our ever-faithful bass drummer and cymbal player from the band's beginnings in 1987. (You can see her standing next to the band banner in the picture at the top of the History page.) She officially retired from the band in early 2009. Her dedicated service was celebrated during the "Changing of the Guard" concert on March 06, 2009. (The concert list is accompanied by a picture of Mildred in full uniform from a concert in November, 2007.) She will be sorely missed.

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