Many Thanks

Tour managers MU1 Bill Edwards and MU1 Rachel Sarracco

Yesterday was our penultimate day of tour. It was a four-hour bus ride through Pennsylvania on a cold rainy day, but once again, our bus driver (who has been with us every tour for the past six years) got us here safely. Thank you, Jerry Novak!

Our commanding officer, Capt. Walden, has been with us the past two nights of our tour. He continues on to Boston to lead the Ceremonial Band that will be playing the national anthem for the Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park on Friday. Thank you, sir, for taking time in your busy schedule to come see us.

A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into putting together our national tours. In our unit, we have two Sea Chanters who've done the leg work this year to put it all together. Musicians 1st Class Bill Edwards and Rachel Sarracco spent a whole year making sure that these three weeks were seamless. It all started with mapping out where in the New England region we would be and locating sponsors and places where we could perform. After the tour locations were set, they actually came out and met the sponsors, drove the entire route, and saw every gig site and hotel before we set off. If something didn't seem right, they fixed it before we got here. Then they put together tour books for everyone in the chain of command with directions, phone numbers, hotel information, etc. to keep everyone well-informed of where we would be. There is so much more to it than that, but I can assure you they put their time and effort in, and have made this tour flawless. Thank you, shipmates, for your commitment to our unit, and all of your incredible work.

The head of the Navy Band tour operations department began his transition into retirement after we left for tour. Master Chief Snider, I would like to thank you for your many years of faithful service. You have done an incredible job getting the Navy Band out on successful national tours for many years - bravo zulu! Chief Neff, I wish you continued success as you take over this department.

It's hard to believe that we only have one gig left until we finish our 2011 national concert tour. It takes so much work to put it together, and it has been great. Thank you all!

Musician 1st Class Kristin Pagent is a soprano vocalist in the Sea Chanters.