Google - Military Productions

<h1 align="center"></h1><h1 align="center">MILITARY PRODUCTIONS</h1>Mark Murray, now Special Project Officer, Military District of Washingtoncalls them "military operas." I have been involved in more than twenty of them.<img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 178px" height="178" src="https://websitebuilder.1and1.com/xml/wfxdirect/res;jsessionid=C80F4B10891ECA692DF03678E7EC3CD1.TC126b?name=CLEV%20HB%20Horse%203%2EJPG" width="240" border="0" wfxsrc="CLEV HB Horse 3.JPG" wfxtype="resource" />Okay - a fuzzy pic, but that's me about to ride a horse out of the Gund Arena garage. That morning I enjoyed riding with the Caisson guys when they exercised the horse who were in SOA '05^Some events you might even call "military vaudevilles." We played DAR Consititution Hall, The Warner Theatre, Washington,DC, the (then) MCI Center, Wash., DC, and arenas in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Rochester, Albany, Worchester and Columbus. These special events would involve musical groups from all services along with guest stars like James McEachin, Tom Brokaw, Peabo Bryson, Ruth Pointer or even Gladys Knight. Some would be a mix of theatrical event and concert ... involving the 82nd Airborne Chorus, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, The United State Army Orchertra, the Army Chorus and others. One event even had eleven members and a drum major from each of the five service marching bands. What these events have in common is that every one of them, in a dignified fashion, honored those who serve in our country's military. ^<img style="WIDTH: 396px; HEIGHT: 263px" height="263" src="https://websitebuilder.1and1.com/xml/wfxdirect/res;jsessionid=C80F4B10891ECA692DF03678E7EC3CD1.TC126b?name=WWII+Uncle+Hike+on+Screen.jpg&type=image" width="396" border="0" wfxsrc="WWII Uncle Hike on Screen.jpg" wfxtype="resource" />Act II Finale, WWII Tribute Production - MCI Center, Wash. DC^I first worked with Mark when I was a sub on a sub contract for the opening ceremonies for AUSA in 1993. I had heard of him, even spoken to him once or twice by phone because Mark was the guy I would call whenever a client was in need of a military color guard for their convention. Our paths crossed several times while I was working for others and he was involved in one way or another. There were several times when I would pick up the phone and hear his gravely Georgia drawl, "Harry, your country needs you." It always meant a challenging, yet fun staging job was on the horizon.^<img style="WIDTH: 444px; HEIGHT: 334px" height="334" src="https://websitebuilder.1and1.com/xml/wfxdirect/res;jsessionid=C80F4B10891ECA692DF03678E7EC3CD1.TC126b?name=SOA+03+Mark+%2B+Troops+MCI.jpg&type=image" width="444" border="0" wfxsrc="SOA 03 Mark + Troops MCI.jpg" wfxtype="resource" />Mark Murray addresses the troops at the close of SOA 2003MCI Center, Washington, DC^Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be working with the company that has won the "Spirit of America" contract. (click on the link to the left for more on that production) I also helped create "The National Tribute to Korean War Veterans" at the MCI Center in 2003. In 2004 The American Battle Monuments Commission was preparing for the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC and approached Tom Hanrahan at View One, Inc and Mark Murray asking for a "Spirit of America" size show about WWII. It would involve military personnel and musicicians from all five services. The result was "Remembrance of Things Past - A Trubute To A Generation." It was the most amazing, frustrating, challenging and rewarding production with which I have even been involved. <a href="https://websitebuilder.1and1.com/xml/wfxdirect/preview;jsessionid=C80F4B10891ECA692DF03678E7EC3CD1.TC126b?page=7&mode=preview" wfxsrc="7" wfxtype="page">WW II Tribute</a> (Click on the WW II Tribute link for more information and pictures.)^<img style="WIDTH: 275px; HEIGHT: 184px" height="184" src="https://websitebuilder.1and1.com/xml/wfxdirect/res;jsessionid=C80F4B10891ECA692DF03678E7EC3CD1.TC126b?name=Champagne+by+Hudson.jpg&type=image" width="275" border="0" wfxsrc="Champagne by Hudson.jpg" wfxtype="resource" />The soldiers of Alpha Company thank me for my work on SOA 2005^A couple months before I wrote this, the US Army chose not to produce "Spirit of America" in 2006 for financial reasons. The money was needed for "the war on terror." There are rumors that SOA 07 will be funded. I surely hope to get a crack at it. No one knows what the future holds in so far as my working again for the military. One thing is for sure, however. I look forward to the next time I pick up the phone and hear Mark insist, "Harry, your country needs you."^