A Change for Memorial Day

There are two Memorial Day concerts this year, one in the early afternoon and one in the late afternoon. The late afternoon concert is downtown at the War Memorial Center, Wisconsin Avenue at the lake, at 5 PM, performed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. The MMCCB has performed at the War Memorial Center for a number of years, and always presents a nice concert. There is no admission.

The change is in regards to the early afternoon concert performed by the Knightwind Ensemble. For 21 years, the Ensemble has performed their annual Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This year, the concert venue has changed to the Chapel of the Chimes in Wisconsin Memorial Park, 132nd and Capitol Drive in Brookfield. This year the Ensemble will perform music of the Civil War in commemoration of its 150th anniversary. Selections include The Blue and The Gray and American Salute, a wonderful arrangement of When Johnny Comes Marching Home. And no Memorial Day concert would be complete without the Armed Forces Salute.

The concert begins at 1 PM, but you may want to arrive early. The Brookfield Civic Chorus performs a Memorial Day program at noon. You can also browse the many hallways filled with wonderful artwork. Also, Wisconsin Memorial Park will be flying 1500 U.S. Flags, called their Avenue of the Flags, beginning at 9:30 AM. This is truly an impressive site you don't want to miss.

So, be sure to take in one of the Memorial Day concerts. I'll be at the Knightwind Ensemble concert, and I hope to see you there.