Mission Statement
As a community band, the mission of the Holland American Legion Band is to offer an opportunity for life-long musical expression and enjoyment by providing quality and challenging musical experiences for its musicians and audiences. It is our goal to educate and entertain our audiences, and to excel at what we do. Following the goal of the American Legion Post that founded the band, we also continue to provide musical support for local community and veterans organizations' events and activities.
A Brief History
In 1920 the newly formed Willard G. Leenhouts American Legion Post 6 in Holland, Michigan, established a band. American Legion members from the area who had experience on musical instruments were invited to join the band, and following the Legion's purpose of serving the entire community, other musicians from the area were also invited to participate. The band members' pride and commitment have been consistent throughout the years.
The band has grown from 25 musicians in 1920 to nearly 100 in recent years. There is a core of regular members that is augmented by other area musicians, including high school and college students, during the summer concert season. Due to a strong sense of pride in the band and its service, many of the band's current musicians are second or third generation Holland American Legion Band members.
The band, especially in its early years with the Holland Furnace Company as a sponsor, traveled frequently to other cities and states for conventions and parades. St. Paul, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans were among the places where they performed. More recently, the band was part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Mackinac Bridge in July 2007, and went to Europe in June 2009 to participate in concerts and ceremonies as part of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. The members also held a private ceremony at the grave of Willard G. Leenhouts at the Aisne-Marne Cemetery near Belleau Wood, France, where he is buried. (Willard had been the first casualty from Holland in WW I, and was chosen as the namesake of the Legion Post when they formed.) That trip concluded with two joint concerts with bands in The Netherlands.
In December 2011 the band again had the honor of participating in an important homage to our US Service men and women by traveling to Pearl Harbor to be part of the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese attack there at the beginning of WW II.
The band has grown from 25 musicians in 1920 to nearly 100 in recent years. There is a core of regular members that is augmented by other area musicians, including high school and college students, during the summer concert season. Due to a strong sense of pride in the band and its service, many of the band's current musicians are second or third generation Holland American Legion Band members.
The band, especially in its early years with the Holland Furnace Company as a sponsor, traveled frequently to other cities and states for conventions and parades. St. Paul, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans were among the places where they performed. More recently, the band was part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Mackinac Bridge in July 2007, and went to Europe in June 2009 to participate in concerts and ceremonies as part of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. The members also held a private ceremony at the grave of Willard G. Leenhouts at the Aisne-Marne Cemetery near Belleau Wood, France, where he is buried. (Willard had been the first casualty from Holland in WW I, and was chosen as the namesake of the Legion Post when they formed.) That trip concluded with two joint concerts with bands in The Netherlands.
In December 2011 the band again had the honor of participating in an important homage to our US Service men and women by traveling to Pearl Harbor to be part of the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese attack there at the beginning of WW II.