Steve Lehman returning vocal soloist will perform Andy Jackson "Where Were You" motivated by the 9-11 tragedy. He also will sing other patriotic numbers with the Municipal Band’s July 4 concerts at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Director of the St. Joseph Municipal Band, Dr. Donald Moely , indicated the band concerts scheduled for Thursday, July 4, at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., will be very patriotic. Over the last years it has become a tradition to honor all veterans who have served their country to stand during the playing of the song of their service. In addition the band asks all veterans to come up on the stage during the last strains of the traditional closing for the concert "Stars and Stripes Forever," by Sousa. Conductor Dr. Moely says "this is one of the band’s favorite concerts of the season because even though they can not play the music they might choose in this traditional day, they are very impressed with all the veterans that are honored for their service to maintain and preserve our freedom." Dr. Moely expects the patriotic feelings and thoughts should be very evident especially this July 4, and the band will provide a great variety of music to reflect that fervor.

The concert begins appropriately with "Liberty Fanfare," composed by John Williams, followed by Edward Franko Goldman’s "Chimes of Liberty." A great American composer who has written many tunes that have become patriotic standards for our country is Irving Berlin and the band then performs "Irving Berlin’s Songs for America", arranged by Swearingen

The band then introduces its guest vocal soloist Steve Lehman. STEVEN LEHMAN was born and raised in Indiana, and presently resides in Osceola with his wife and four children. He graduated from Elkhart High school. Lehman started singing in small groups (quartets, etc) when he was 17. It was always Christian music. Then in 1973, he joined a Campus Life group that did concerts in their region in which the first half of the concert was secular music, then the second half was Christian music. As the years went on Lehman was in groups that did concerts for banquets, various special events, and revivals. His experiences have included recording studio work. Lehman recorded a CD for the Granger Community Church of Indiana of which he is a member. Steven has been very active singing in church worship teams for over 20 years. As a performer he is busy singing at a variety of special events through out the area

Mr. Lehman will sing "God Bless American." This will be followed by the song composed and motivate by the September 11 event entitled "Where Were You." Lehman concludes his vocal performance with band in singing the famous Lee Greenwood song "God Bless the U.S.A."

The program lightens up a bit with the comedian song of Red Skelton, interestingly titled "Red’s White and Blue" march.

The next song is dedicated to all the veterans which is called the "Armed Forces Salute," arranged by Bob Lowden. Dr. Moely said "this is where we first introduce each branch of our services and the war during which they served.

The concert continues with "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," which is an artistic treatment of the Navy Hymn by Claude T. Smith. This is followed by the band playing its own version of "Battle Hymn of the Republic", by Peter J. Wilhousky, arranged by James Nielson, followed the traditional closer of the July 4 concerts, America’s own March, "Stars and Stripes Forever," by the march king, John Philip Sousa. After this, instead of offering its usual encore, Dr. Moely asks all the veterans to come up on the stage, while taps is played so they can be a part the band on the stage as grand finale strains of the "Stars and Stripes Forever" is finally played as a special patriotic encore to close the concert.

After the Thursday, July 4 Holiday double concerts at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., the band’s concert season continues the weekly double concert, the rest of the Sundays of the summer up including Monday, Labor Day, September 2.