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Band of Brothers: Golden Eagle Band shares more than music

  • Published
  • By Pfc. Chalon Hutson
  • 301st Public Affairs Detachment
PEMERTON, N.J. --  The sound of Christmas tunes played throughout the Pemberton school halls Dec. 11, 2012, as the Golden Eagle Community Band practiced for its Christmas Around the World performance.

Upon first sight, it looks like any other community band; but beneath the surface lies something special. In addition to the noticeable age diversity throughout this brass, woodwind, and percussion band, several of the musicians are U.S. military veterans who served from the Korean War era to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

The Golden Eagle Community Band dates back to the 1970s, years before some of the band members were even born.

"There are people who are playing in this band longer than I have been alive, and I'm 30," said Army Capt. Nicholas J. Ziemba, native of Wilbraham, Mass., and active duty infantry officer with 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment, 174th Infantry Brigade, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "I am just happy to be here, playing alongside them."

Integrating into civilian life and one's local community can sometimes be difficult for service members, but finding other veterans in the community can make the transition easier.

Ziemba, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has played trumpet for the band longer than a year.

"We get very much wrapped around our version of the military, with deployment after deployment; but these guys had it much harder back then," said Ziemba. "Their perspectives are great. A lot of it is the diversity of experience, and not necessarily military experience, but being able to relate with folks of all ages."

Carmine Laraia, who plays first trumpet in the band, said band members share valuable life experience that goes beyond their music and military commonalities.

"My wife was shopping in a mall, and the band was there recruiting new members. At that point, I hadn't touched my instrument in about 40 years," said Laraia, Army veteran and resident of Columbus, N.J. "It's been 22 years since [joining the band]. My wife thought it would be a good idea and [I would] get enjoyment out of that, which I did."

Diversity is one thing that makes The Golden Eagle Community Band different. They march to the beat of their own drums. Their military service helps bond them and their life experiences and professions set them apart.

Harvey Yorker has played for the band for about a year, and is a retired physician in the Air National Guard. He retired after 20 years and resides in N.J.

"In the band, there are older people and younger people, and very few in between," joked Yorker, who plays alto saxophone in the band. "Many of the people are in college or entering college. The other half of the band, well, many are retired."

The diversity of the band members demonstrates many different aspects of their community that unites it through music, said Ziemba.

"It gives a whole different perspective to my life," he added. "It helps me to see where they come from and what it means to be a part of this community."

The band rehearses every Tuesday night and performs every two or three months. It is currently recruiting bassists and more information can be found at www.goldeneaglecommunityband.org.

"This is the greatest group of people you'll ever find," Laraia said. "I almost feel like we are part of a family and we are like extended family."