Students laughed, cheered, sang and danced through the performance while waving their arms in the air lighting up the darkened auditorium with cell phone flashlights.

When the performance began, vocalist Staff Sgt. Marik Chrisman asked the students if they were ready to rock, and the students responded with a resounding “Yeah.”

Students were on their feet with a standing ovation for the band after only the third song into the performance, which was Shawn Mendez’s “Nothing Holding Me Back.”

The band’s performance of Lady Gaga’s and Bruno Mars’ “Die with a Smile” and JVKE’s “Golden Hour” had the students with arms swaying in the air with their cell phone flashlights on.

United States Army veteran George Cowey, Chester, West Virginia, stands while the United State Air Force Band of Flight plays the Army Cadence as part of the Armed Forces Medley during its community performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Midway through the performance, the band took a time out from performing to hold a question-and-answer session for the students.

Chrisman explained to the students how he came to be a part of the band and how music was important and if band wasn’t their thing that the Air Force had over 200 other jobs to choose from if they were interested in the military.

Chrisman told how in the small town in Montana where he grew up, he didn’t see a lot of military members, and he didn’t really know what he wanted to do when he grew up until around his junior year when he decided to go into the military. During his high school years loved the arts and was active in band and choir but didn’t know about military bands, so he made the decision to go in as a cyber person, but he quickly found that wasn’t for him. He noted if he had had an experience with a military band like what the East Liverpool students had then he more than likely would have tried to go the band route first.

Band members went out into the audience with a microphone for students to ask their questions. Most of the questions asked by students centered more around band interest such as what was the band’s favorite song to play, to which pianist Senior Airman Ben Thompson responded with “Golden Hour;” what songs they learned to perform in the service, which was answered by multiple band members listing most of the songs they performed, most recent probably being “Die with a Smile.” The band received a round of applause from the students when the question was asked what the hardest thing is they have had to do and Technical Sgt. Ryan Manzi responded by saying when they have to leave their families and loved ones for deployments.

When the band finished Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll,” the students started chanting “USA, “USA.”

United States Marine Corps veteran Michael Williams Sr. and his son Michael Jr., East Liverpool, stand while the United State Air Force Band of Flight plays the Marine Corps anthem as part of the Armed Forces Medley during their community performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Many students watched wide eyed and surprised when the band closed the show with the East Liverpool High School Fight Song.

When it came time to dismiss the students they started chanting “one more song” and the band happily responded by performing Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me Now.”

Chrisman said he hoped the performance would provide a positive military image for the students who might not know what it’s like to be in the military because all the movies and TV shows and other forms of media can display something that does not accurately show what the interworking of the military looks like and he thinks it’s cool to be able to show that to the kids and maybe give them a good first impression.

Student Piper Wolfe, freshman, who plays the trombone in the high school marching band, said she thought the show was amazing, and it was incredible to see.

Before seeing the performance, Piper had never thought there would be music opportunities in the military and thought primarily military was all defenses. She had never considered the military as an option before but now sees it as a possible career option with interest in military bands.

United States Army veteran George Cowey, Chester, West Virginia, records video on his phone of veterans standing to be recognized during the United State Air Force Band of Flight performance of the Armed Forces Medley during its community performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Piper sees music being an asset because of the way it brings everybody together.

“Everybody out there in the crowd was put together. We all got brought together by music, so, I think it’s just really cool how music brings everybody together,” Piper said.

Student Parker Detchon, freshman and drum line member, said he loved the show and thought it was really nice that they could come there, and he knew all the songs they played and he really enjoyed it.

“I think this is really cool, I have heard of these people before but I never thought they were fully associated with the air force,” Parker said. “I think it really cool how we have music in our branches of the military.”

Parker agreed with Piper that music brings people together noting that a lot of students have their differences but he think s it really cool that a band can come perform songs and everybody is like one with difference set aside and having fun together and thinks it cool how music has that effect on people.

Veterans stand with their families to be recognized while the during the United State Air Force Band of Flight performance of the Armed Forces Medley during their community performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Parker has previously considered going into the military and said the performance has revved that up a little bit more for him because he has always loved band, and this takes it to a whole new level.

Thomas Ellison, freshmen percussion, said the band was great and he loved seeing how people from different backgrounds came together to play songs for them.

He has also considered military service before but is now giving it more thought after seeing a military band perform for the first time.

He thinks it’s great that people that protect and serve are able to perform and bring a sense of peace and bring people closer together.

Airman First Class David Heyn, bassist, said that it was incredible how receptive the students were to the performance and he could see the enthusiasm and the passion they have for music and live performance. He also noted that it’s great to see students be involved in the performance and how the bands’ energy and the student’s energy just mash together and how enthusiastic the students were to see them and see that they were happy to be there.

United States Marine Corps veteran Michael Williams Sr. and his son Michael Jr., East Liverpool, attend the United State Air Force Band of Flight performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

On Thursday, the band gave a community performance that was open for anyone to attend. During that performance they played a variety of rock, pop, country and patriotic music.

To honor all veterans who were in attendance, the band performed the “Armed Forces Medley” and encouraged veterans or audience members who had family members who were veterans to stand and sing when their branch song was performed.

George Cowley, Chester West Virginia, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the late 1950s into the early 1960s, said he loved the performance and it meant a lot to him that the band recognizes and honors veterans that way. He noted he loved anything patriotic.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Michael Williams Sr., East Liverpool, attended Thursday performance with his young son Michael Jr. who is a student in the district.

Michael enthusiastically said he was proud of his dad, and he wants to follow in his dad’s footsteps and carry his legacy as a future marine. He said the band was amazing and it was the best show ever, and he was glad he had a chance to get a photo with some of the band members.

Williams said it was great to see this in his hometown, and it was great to see a band like that in East Liverpool. He also enjoyed it because he has family and friends in the air force.

Chrisman said that the band loves to perform for veterans.

“We know that we stand on the shoulders of giants, and we know that we are only where we are at is because of the selfless sacrifices that those people have made before us,” Chrisman said.

Chrisman also noted that doing the “Armed Forces Medley” is one of his favorite parts of the show and he enjoys seeing people who may not get a whole lot of thank yous for what they have done be able to stand up and have the spotlight on them. He also said that the community aspect is a way for them to give back as thanks for all the small ways communities support them.

“Thank you so much to the East Liverpool community for having us here” Chrisman said. “We look forward to them maybe having us back here soon.”

East Liverpool was the final stop on the Band of Flight’s tour. They will now be heading back to their bases to prepare for an early spring deployment to Qatar.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com

East Liverpool High School students react to the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

East Liverpool High School students react to the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Senior Airman Ben Thompson, piano, does a keyboard solo during the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Senior Airman Marvin Calderon and Staff Sgt. Marik Chrisman take time out of the performance to answer students’ questions. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Staff Sgt. Marik Chrisman takes time out of the performance to answer students’ questions. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The United States Air Force Band of Flight perform the East Liverpool High School Fight song during its performance at Potter Field House. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Freshmen students and East Liverpool High School band members Piper Wolfe, Parker Detchon and Thomas Ellison take a photo with the United States Air Force Band of Flight members Senior Airman Steven Chilson, Technical Sgt. Ryan Manzi, Master Sgt. Peter Dahlstrom, Staff Sgt. Marik Chrisman, Airman 1st Class David Heyn, Senior Airman Ben Thompson, Senior Airman Aaron Taylor, Staff Sgt. James Nufer, and Senior Airman Marvin Calderon. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Members of the United States Air Force Band of Flight Master Sgt. Peter Dahlstrom, mellophone; Staff Sgt. James Nufer, trumpet; Airman 1st Class David Heyn, Bass; Senior Airman Aaron Taylor, drums; Technical Sgt. Ryan Manzi, guitar; Senior Airman Ben Thompson, piano; Staff Sgt. Marik Chrisman, vocals; Senior Airman Marvin Calderon, vocals; and Senior Airman Steven Chilson, audio engineer, perform at East Liverpool Junior Senior High School. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Technical Sgt. Ryan Manzi, United States Air Force Band of Flight performs a guitar solo during the band’s community performance at the Potter Field House at East Liverpool Junior Senior High School. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Wendi Toota; Derek Cale, 12; Amelia Travaglino, 13, and Dean Hornbeck, 13, clap along to the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s performance of Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help.” (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)