Under clear blue skies with a mild breeze, the Holland American Legion Band assembled for a five minute Sunday service presented by RCA Pastor and American Legion Band alto saxophone player Bob VanVoorst on the very location of President Obama’s speech a day earlier.

Here is the transcript to Pastor VanVoorst’s service at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France:

Service at the American Cemetery in Normandy

June 7, 2009

Opening: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Salutation: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Jesus said,12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵I do not call you servants^* any longer, because the servant^* does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

Meditation: “No Greater Love”

Prayer

We give thanks for: Jesus Christ, who has called us his friends and given his life for us; the fruitful work God has given us to do; the love that we share with all the people of God; the heritage of freedom that we enjoy; God’s presence with us.

We pray for: the unity and mission of the church; peace in the world, and especially for our nation; those who visit this place during this anniversary; our families and friends while we are separated from them; God’s blessing on our band as we travel and play; that all those who hear us may increase their dedication to justice and harmony among the nations.

Benediction “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of his presence upon you, and grant you peace.”

Officiating: Robert Van Voorst, RCA minister (and 2^nd alto saxophonist).

Picture: Ron Geers playing Taps on Omaha Beach for the Ceremony for Soldiers Lost at Sea at Saint Martin de Varreville.

Picture:  Holland Legion Honor Guard on Omaha Beach.

How do they do it?  Professional singers/musicians I mean?  We had three concerts at three different venues today and one reception and now I’m totally beat!  Our last concert tonight was at the Concert Hall of Saint-Lo.  Very cool area!  They requested an encore…THREE TIMES!!!!  The stage lights were bright and the house lights were off, but our clarinet and flute players could see the French audience standing for the Star Spangled Banner.  Talk about a tear jerker!  That after seeing the invasion beaches with young soldiers site seeing and aged veterans performing in ceremonies while young children are playing in laughing on the beach where the invasions took place 65 years ago. I would have never guessed how popular RV’ing is in Normandy.  All the sites have a dozen or more RVs parked in the lot.

Note from our Esteemed Director Thom Working:

Tonight’s concert at the Center Hall of Saint-Lo was the most amazing concert the band has ever played.  We received a standing ovation and two encores.  -Thom

The following is a message from our Director Extrodinairre Thom Working:

Saturday Afternoon – Normandy Time

We just had our first concert in Ste Mere Eglise right outside the church where John Steele’s parachute caught on the steeple.  I’m so proud of this band!  They played so well.  We had a large and very appreciative audience.

Now back to Saint-Lo to play at their D-Day ceremony and then a concert in their auditorium.   Tomorrow we play atthe Normandy Cemetary, Arromaches, and Carentan.

This band is doing such a great job!  Be proud of them – They represent you well!!!

-Thom

Holland American Legion Band unloading tour bus for first concert in Normandy at Place de l'Eglise where Paratrooper John Steele's parachute was caught on the steeple during the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.

Click here to learn more about John Steele’s and Saint Mere Eglise, the first village liberated by the US forces on June 6, 1944.

Awesome flight into Paris this morning.  Cool double decker tour bus with instrument trailer packed full.  Cool seeing Pegasus Bridge and Caen War Museum today.  Ended travel at 7pm in Saint Lo.  (34 hours awake with only a couple short naps on the bus!  We’re all tired.)  Internet service at the hotel is VERY slow tonight, so I hope to post some pics tomorrow if I find a faster Hot Spot.  Possible live phone interview scheduled with WoodTV 8 (www.woodtv.com) at 6:45am and 7:45am Saturday, June 6.

Several concerts scheduled for tomorrow.

All’s well and everyone is happy to finally have beds to sleep on!

05Jun09 6:30am Amsterdam Time.

ALLS WELL IN AMSTERDAM STOP PARIS NINE TWENTY FIVE STOP

At 3 Euros per 15 minutes of WIFI, I figured I better resort to telegraph technology to update the blog.

For 35 years I’ve stood in North America looking east towards the Netherlands (the land of my ancestors) and I have to admit, it was pretty amazing to descend through the clouds and see canals, fields, and a McDonalds and realize that I am now in Europe looking west towards home. They tell me it’s the same sun here as I see at home. Can you believe it? (I’m sort of kidding about that, but it’s still amazing to me!)

After our flight to Paris, we’ll be visiting the Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal. From there we will visit the Caen Memorial and find our hotels for the next three nights in Saint Lo, France.

Hopefully I’ll have a more stable internet connection at the hotel.

Absolutely perfect weather provided a great beginning for our trip!  After a few words from Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and a short prayer by Holland Legion Chaplain Scott Peirce, we loaded the buses and headed for the Detroit Airport.  We’ve arrived at the airport without incident and are in the process of getting through security and finding our gate.

Here’s a link to departure video on WoodTV.com:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/Holland_band_travels_to_Normandy

Next stop, Amsterdam!!!

My math skills aren’t all that sharp, and frankly I’ve been told I fall a little flat when it comes to smarts, but I count 43 days till we climb on the plane headed for Normandy!!!  Tomorrow night (Thursday) is the first full rehearsal for the Normandy trip so it seems appropriate to officially begin blogging for the European Tour!!!  My name is Dave Boeve and I’ll be your blogging host throughout the trip.  Barring severe technical disaster, this blog will be YOUR source for video, audio, and text updates on our progress towards the trip and during the trip.  As the actual trip gets closer, you will also find coverage on woodtv.com and 1450AM WHTC (www.whtc.com), but for now, just keep checking out HollandLegionBand.org!

Fund raising: Yep, we can still use some!  Perhaps you’d like to sponsor this blog and have our huge, worldwide audience see your name in lights for the next two months!  Send me an e-mail at David@AudioMemories.org if interested.  Otherwise please follow the links to make a fully tax deductible contribution!  Thanks in advance!

I’ll try to catch some interviews with band members tomorrow night at practice for you!

Dave