An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 26, 2009

New Mexico quartet plays private concert for Vietnam vet

By Staff Sgt. Anna Doo New Mexico National Guard

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - On a cold and wintry afternoon in January, members of the 44th Army Band warmed up a Vietnam veteran's heart and home.

The "Darn Saxy" quartet of the New Mexico Army National Guard's 44th Army Band filled the air with marches, the service anthems of the Navy and Air Force and some toe-tapping Glen Miller tunes.

Band members said the recipient of the gift of music, retired Col. Frank Hines, tapped his foot, grinned from ear to ear, and held his family close throughout the private concert.

Hines is an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran, who served in both the Navy and the Air Force during his long military career.

When Hines learned of the severity of his medical condition, he requested live music to be played at his funeral.

His daughter, Elizabeth Hines of Bellingham, Wash., did not want him to wait for that moment to hear his favorite tunes. So, she phoned in a request for a special concert through Kirtland Air Force Base public affairs office on behalf of her terminally ill father.

Without an Air Force band at Kirtland, the 44th Army Band was quickly called upon to support this special request.

Once the concert was scheduled, Elizabeth flew in to be with her father and other family members as the "Darn Saxy" quartet gladly spent the afternoon regaling Hines with various marches and tunes that he had heard during his active career in the military.

Chief Warrant Officer Wendy Franchell, the 44th Army Band commander, has performed many concerts during her military career but said this one is the most memorable.

"It is moments like this that make what we do well worth every minute of struggle in order to perform for veterans like this," she said. "What a great honor and memorable performance moment in history this was for the band."

Sgt. Christopher Gutierrez, an alto saxophone player in the "Darn Saxy" ensemble, said that this performance was the most humbling of his eight-year military career.

"The family members were thrilled to have 'Darn Saxy' play," he said. "Mr. Hines seemed to be enjoying the performance with a smile on his face and toes tapping. We were able to shake hands with him, and his family thanked us for being there."

 

 

Related Articles
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, discusses briefing details with Col. Augusto Villalaz, director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard, during the annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2025. The drill helps synchronize plans and strengthen coordination across LANG’s senior leadership ahead of hurricane season.
Louisiana Guard Rehearses Emergency Plans for Hurricane Season
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, | May 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard conducted its annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge May 21, uniting key personnel across multiple commands to refine...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, sling load a reduced range practice rocket to a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations - preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
New Hampshire Guard Teams with Morocco for Sling Load Training at African Lion 2025
By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester, | May 28, 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company (744TH FSC), 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for...

From left, Sgt. Edward Acda, Lt. Col. Vern Perez, Sgt. 1st Class Celine Taitano, Capt. Ryan Arellano, Staff Sgt. Jovencio Mortera, and Sgt. Avery Tyquiengco of the Guam National Guard participate in Balikatan Cyber Defense Exercise, Manila, April 27, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. (Courtesy asset)
Guam Guard Participates in Balikatan 2025 Cyber Defense Exercise
By Mark Scott, | May 28, 2025
MANILA, Philippines – A team of cyber professionals and an intelligence analyst from the Guam National Guard attended Balikatan 2025, participating in the three-week Cyber Defense Exercise alongside teams from various...