USAFE Band brings American music, hospitality to Israel

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jonathan Friedman
  • USAFE News Service
TEL AVIV, Israel (USAFENS) --  Food on the grill, family and friends gathering, children playing, and music filling the atmosphere -- all ingredients for an American forth of July celebration.

But, this isn't a standard celebration and it's not in America. The U. S. Air Forces in Europe Band brought music to the American military community stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 1 - 4.

In addition, to bringing a small piece of home to the American community here, the four-day celebration was also an opportunity to share American hospitability with other foreign attaches and their families who are also in Israel, said Col. Roger Bass, U.S. Army Attaché in Israel.

"It helps them keep in touch with the United States, but I think it gives them a lot of pleasure and joy because a lot of the people out here are their friends and colleagues -- people that they work with day-in-and-day-out who are foreign nationals," said Colonel Bass. "It's with a little bit of pride that they're able to share this kind of music with their international friends. I think that's a big part of it."

The music that’s shared crosses international borders, agreed Senior Airman Amy Moran, USAFE Band member.

"I think it brings people closer together," said Airman Moran. "A lot of time people find out that 'I like this song and I like this song' -- that's an initiative to talk to one another. I've always defined music as a language. It's a language that -- no matter what language you actually speak -- it's something that you can understand and listen to."

And, that language became even more clearly defined when the USAFE Band got a chance to jam with their Israel air force counterparts July 3.

The Israeli Band has some tremendous musicians,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Cronsell, USAFE Band member. “After the guitar player’s first few riffs, I was bobbing my head and grinning from ear-to-ear. It really reaffirmed my belief that music is a universal language.”

That similarity was heard by band members on both sides.

“Although we travel a lot through Europe, this is the first time we’ve been able to play with the USAFE Band,” said Seren (Capt.) Liron Danieli, Israeli air force band commander. “We’re very similar as musicians and professionals -- and I’d love to be able to play again in the future.”