3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) to Attend Veterans Remembrance Tree Tagging in Maine

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Join us for a historic day of honor and tribute.

On Saturday, July 29, 2017, members of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard), including unit Commanders, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Continental Color Guard and the U.S. Army Drill Team, will be in Downeast Maine to participate in a veterans remembrance tree-tagging event. The afternoon event, co-sponsored by national nonprofit Wreaths Across America, will culminate with a concert — free for all veterans and active duty military — at the Balsam Valley Amphitheater where The U.S. Army Field Band's Six-String Soldiers will perform prior to the featured act, the legendary rock band KANSAS.

A complete listing of the day's public events with times can be found at the end of this release.

Included in this public event will be a ceremony unveiling the newly designated "Old Guard Memorial Grove." The grove will be located on the tip land where balsam is harvested to create the remembrance wreaths that are placed at Arlington National Cemetery and across the country each December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. There, tree branches will forever carry replica dog tags with the names of those service members who have passed. Every three years the trees will be "tipped" or pruned to gather balsam brush to make veterans remembrance wreaths that are placed on military headstones. Especially meaningful is the location of the Grove, which is adjacent to the soon-to-be-opened Medal of Honor Remembrance Park. From this vantage point, The Old Guard will continue to stand watch over America's fallen heroes.

Public event timeline:
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Unveiling ceremony for the "Old Guard Memorial Grove"
          Open to the public; please use tip land entrance across from County Concrete (125 Pit Rd.)
4:30 p.m. Gates open to Balsam Valley Amphitheater 
          Always FREE to all veterans and active duty military
5:45 p.m. Performance by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, The U.S. Army Drill Team and the Continental Color Guard
6:30 p.m. Performance by the Six-String Soldiers of the U.S. Army Field Band
7:15 p.m. Children sing-along of "I'm an American. Yes, I am!" with Six-String Soldiers
          Open to ALL attending children
8:00 p.m. Performance by rock band KANSAS
9:30 p.m. Fireworks display

"We are so excited to be bringing this once-in-a-lifetime event to Maine," said Renee Worcester, event manager, Balsam Valley Amphitheater. "From the U.S. Army Drill Team's amazing routines with bayonets flying through the air to a sing-along with the Six-String Soldiers, all leading to a performance by KANSAS…this will be a can not miss event!"

About The Old Guard (fact sheets available upon request)
The 3d U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784.

The Old Guard is the Army's official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, and it also provides security for Washington, D.C., in times of national emergency or civil disturbance. The unit received its unique name from Gen. Winfield Scott during a victory parade in Mexico City in 1847 following its valorous performance in the Mexican War. Fifty five campaign streamers attest to the 3rd Infantry's long history of service, which spans from the Battle of Fallen Timbers to World War II, Vietnam and the current Global War on Terrorism.

Since World War II, The Old Guard has served as the official Army Honor Guard and escort to the president. In that capacity, 3rd Infantry Soldiers are responsible for the conducting of military ceremonies at the White House, the Pentagon, national memorials and elsewhere in the National Capital Region. In addition, Soldiers of The Old Guard maintain a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, provide final honors for military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and participate in parades at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Lesley J. McNair.

About the Six-String Soldiers (fact sheet available upon request)
Part of The United States Army Field Band, Six-String Soldiers is a three-member acoustic group performing Americana, folk, bluegrass, and Irish music in an informal setting. The group brings its signature style to the smallest most intimate venues, the busiest public places, and music festivals across the United States. Honoring veterans and telling stories of American soldiers across the nation, the Six-String Soldiers offer one of the most personal musical experiences found in the United States Army. Six-String Soldiers' social media videos have become viral sensations and earned acclaim from many of the covered songs' original artists, such as Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, The Doobie Brothers, and John Fogerty.

About KANSAS
With a legendary career spanning more than four decades, KANSAS has firmly established itself as one of America's iconic classic rock bands. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.

Composing a catalogue that includes fifteen studio albums and five live albums, KANSAS has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), and two one million-selling gold singles, Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind. KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the '70s and '80s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. Carry On Wayward Son continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio, and Dust In the Wind has been played on the radio more than three million times!

About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, to sponsor wreaths or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

SOURCE Wreaths Across America

Related Links

http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org