440th Army Band To Perform July 4th Concert At Roanoke Island Festival Park

Posted By Matt Artz on June 22, 2016

The 440^th United States Army Band will perform at Roanoke Island Festival Park, beginning at 8 p.m. (gates open at 6 p.m.), for the annual July 4^th Celebration, also featuring fireworks, provided by the Town of Manteo, begining at dark.

Food vendors will be on site and The Museum Store will be selling select items. Parking on site at Festival Park is on a first-serve basis. Handicapped Parking is available until filled (proper permit required). Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets or tarps- no dogs.

The 440th Army Band has served as the State’s National Guard Band under several designations since the early 1900’s. The Band was activated in World War II as the 30th Infantry Division Band along with the rest of the North Carolina National Guard as the “Old Hickory Division.”

It served with distinction landing on the beach at Normandy and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge for which the band carries honors awarded by France and Belgium. The Band was re-designated the 440th Army Band in 1973 and performs for troops and their families and for the citizens of North Carolina at ceremonies, public concerts, and parades.

Since September 11, 2001, the Band has performed over 500 ceremonies for deploying and returning North Carolina National Guardsmen and their families.

The 440th Army Band is comprised of citizen soldiers who in civilian life are college students, educators, business men and women, and professional people. The Band has earned numerous awards including Outstanding North Carolina National Guard unit and has earned the Eisenhower trophy three times as an outstanding Army unit.

The 440th Army Band is commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Four Mark B. Cummings. In his civilian life he is retired and teaches ballroom dancing. The Mission of Army Bands has changed over the past decade. The need for smaller units, with flexibility and variety in use, developed a modular structure within Army Bands. Although the Concert Band still performs, the majority of their missions are supported with Musical Performance Teams including: Concert/Ceremonial Band; Marching Band; Jazz Patriots; Emancipated Patriots; Jazz Octet; Rock Band; Liberty Brass and Guardians.

The 440^th Army Band will perform a patriotic concert live at Roanoke Island Festival Park on Monday, July 4.

Gates open at 6pm, and showtime is at 8pm, with the fireworks display to follow, starting at dusk.

Admission to this event is free.