I had never been in a Memorial Day Parade before–at least not as a participant who was fully engaged in the honors being bestowed, the opportunity to contribute one’s talent, and the importance of such an event for individuals and communities.

Thanks to the City of South Bend, The Music Village, and local filmmaker Chuck Fry, I was invited to be one of the local musicians playing Taps in prominent places along the parade route. You can see Chuck’s excellent short film at vimeo, as well as South Bend’s facebook page and mine. All posted in just the past few days.

A remarkable combination of developments gave me a chance to use my musical abilities to honor my father as a deceased World War II veteran and as the man whose own simple but joyful accordion playing inspired me to become an accordion instructor and performer, sharing music with the community these days. You’ll see that the film allowed me to tell a personal story connecting past, present, and future.

A big thank you to everyone who was involved. That definitely includes my dad and all the veterans to whom our country owes so much.