RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- As Europe marked the 80th anniversary of Victory Day for WWII, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Band played a leading role in commemorating this historic milestone through music, remembrance, and partnership events across the continent.
The USAFE Band’s ensembles connected with thousands of Europeans in England, France, Germany, and Czechia to honor the legacy of Allied sacrifice and celebrate eight decades of peace and partnership.
“Music has a unique power to bridge cultures, commemorate shared sacrifice, and celebrate enduring alliances,” said Lt. Col. Rafael Toro-Quinones, USAFE-AFAFRICA Band commander. “This week’s performances honored our common history and strengthened bonds with partners and communities who continue to uphold the values of freedom and democracy.”
On May 3, the USAFE-AFAFRICA Concert Band delivered an evening concert at Fritz Wunderlich Hall in Kusel, Germany, for the town’s mayor and local community members, celebrating U.S.-German ties.
In Czechia, the USAFE Band’s rock ensemble, Touch ‘n Go, interacted with audiences on May 2 with a public outreach concert at Tachov Castle and student engagements at Konservatoř Plzeň and Gymnázium Lud’ka Píky.
The visit culminated in Pilsen on May 4, where Touch ‘n Go closed the city’s Liberation Festival with a high-energy concert in Republic Square. More than 3,500 people attended, including 150 descendants of U.S. liberators who freed Pilsen from Nazi occupation.
On May 6, a six-member ensemble performed alongside the Royal Air Force Band at a commemorative street party hosted by the U.S. chargé d’affaires in London, drawing in guests and passersby to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe through a shared cultural moment.
In Paris, the USAFE Band joined musicians from U.S. Army Europe and Africa and Naval Forces Europe for a multinational military band performance during a May 8 ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe. The ensemble then marched down the Champs-Élysées alongside French children, veterans, and international bands from France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Cameroon in a jubilant parade reminiscent of the spontaneous celebrations of 1945.
“It’s been an honor to partake in such a historic occasion and represent the United States,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brad Green, section chief of resources for the USAFE-AFAFRICA Band. “To perform in locations where so much history unfolded is a profound reminder of the sacrifices made—and the responsibility we carry forward.”
Through every performance with Allies and partners, the USAFE-AFAFRICA Band serve as a reminder that peace is built not only from military strength, but through the collective commitment to mutual respect and freedom.