AFMC Command News

Music to tell Air Force story during AFMC tattoo

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Adrianne Michele
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  While aircraft from the Air Force inventory will headline the second annual Air Force Materiel Command Tattoo June 30, the Air Force Band of Flight will bring the show to life.

The AFMC Tattoo — “Freedom’s Call” will focus on the service’s total force, including flyovers expected from a B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk, B-52 Stratofortress and others. The aircraft may steal the show, but a tattoo is more than the aerial parade.

Tattoos originated as military formations.

“It started out with the local commander sending drummers and buglers into the street to bring troops back onto base at the end of the day,” said Lt. Col. Alan C. Sierichs, U.S. Air Force Band of Flight commander. “So even at the beginning, music was the language that was used.”

That language will tie together the elements of the show this year, which include displays of air supremacy, humanitarian operations, Special Forces and space capabilities. Colonel Sierichs said the music selections will include both overt flying references and more subtle tie-ins.

“I believe any music a military band plays should have either one of two factors,” he said. “It should be able to inspire somebody in some way, or it should be able to influence someone on behalf of the U.S. Air Force.”

The event is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the grounds of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and spectators will be treated to fireworks after the main show. The Air Force Band of Flight is used to doing such large-scale performances, according to Colonel Sierichs. In addition to regular concerts at the museum, they travel to play at events from Michigan to Kentucky, Indiana to West Virginia, often for crowds of thousands.

“Any time you get that many people in once place, it gives us an opportunity to put a good foot forward for the Air Force, which is what we do day in and day out,” Colonel Sierichs said.

An event like the AFMC tattoo poses some additional challenges for the group though, he said.

“The difference in this one is that the timing is more critical because we’re dealing with the aircraft,” Colonel Sierichs said. “It’s a tighter sequence of events.”

He was quick to say though the behind-the-scenes support, including aircraft coordinators and audio technicians, backs the band up and makes the event seamless.

The combination of all elements in the show — live drama, video, music and aircraft — will be what makes the show special, Colonel Sierichs said, but he’ll have his eyes on the sky.

“Even though I’ll be leading the band, I’ll be watching the airplanes just as much as everyone else,” he said. “That’s what the Air Force does, and it’s awe-inspiring to watch.”

The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event will start at 8 p.m. For more information, including a parking map, visit the Web site at http://tattoo.wpafb.af.mil or call 255-8046, ext. 496.