The Pastor's Blog

By Larry Day

As a forgotten and overlooked vet of the “Cold War” I suffer silently.  But each year…on 11/11  the pain returns. Its not just on this day, but many a night I wake…paralyzed with the horrifying recurring dream of a particularly bad performance of my trombone solo on Irving Berlin’s classic “Blue Skies”.

I blame myself. There is no one else to blame. There I was…a mighty Petty Officer Third Class…of the US Navy Band…a leader of a dangerous covert ops jazz band….leading highly trained and dangerous musicians…and I  was getting ready to go for the high Db on the last note;  and I panicked!  

I’ve read about soldiers panicking when being routed in a battle; they throw their weapons on the ground and run like the hounds of hell are nipping at their heels. Now, I didn’t actually throw my horn on the ground…but, fear welled up in me…and I just knew that I was not going to make that Db.

So, Just when my shipmates needed me the most – I let them down. I let them down a perfect 4th to be exact. That’s right…I ended on the Ab…the 5th of the chord instead of nailing the tonic up on the Db.

The crowd response at the shopping mall reflected my anemic ending  – by continueing to ignore us as they had during the Bee Gee’s medley  of “Staying Alive / How Deep Is Your Love”.

My friend Rick…he went down fighting trying to play that Db…split his lip. The third chair trombone…Gruber…he had the sense to not even try. But me…I was like Maverick in Top Gun…the best of the best…but like him…when duty called…I flamed out.

After the gig, it was a simple trick to make my dress white uniform look like I was the ice cream guy….so, I blended in with the civilians (as was our training) and slipped away eating a waffle cone with Rocky Road. The sweet taste in my mouth a bitter contrast to my failure.

And each year…I remember.  In my mind…that last note is coming at me…my chops are about to burst from the 5 minute solo…ritard…slow down…crescendo…here it comes….and then I wake up.

Its not pretty folks.

God bless you other vets out there who have served and sacrificed  – and enjoyed a military band from time to time.

Larry