Valley City  (CSi)  A special evening of music provided by the 188th Army Band is scheduled Wednesday, June 14,  starting at 7:15 p.m. at the City Park Bandshell in Valley City.

With June 14 being Flag Day, there will be additional activities in the park. Starting at 6 p.m., the VFW will be providing a picnic supper for the first 250 people. Stan Amundson with Midwest Dairy will provide ice cream as well.

Valley City Parks and Recreation spokesperson Diane Sommerfeld says,”This is a great opportunity and privilege to recognize those in the community and surrounding areas who have served or serving our country. The 188th will be recognizing those in attendance during the program.”

The program will be moved to Vangstad Auditorium on the Valley City State University campus and supper will be served at the VFW in the event of inclement weather.

The official mission of the 188th Army Band is to provide music throughout the full spectrum of military operations and to instill in soldiers the will to fight and win, to foster the support of citizens, to promote national interests at home and abroad, and to entertain audiences.The band has continued to provide music to the citizens and soldiers of North Dakota for 130 years.

The 188th Army Band’s lineage begins in 1887 in Valley City, Dakota Territory. The unit designation was changed in 1889 when North Dakota was admitted to the Union. In 1891 the band was moved to Lisbon. The First North Dakota Infantry Band was ordered to active duty in 1916 to support Gen. “Blackjack” Pershing during the Mexican Border War and then to France in support of World War I. Following the war, the band returned to Lisbon, newly reorganized as the 164th Infantry Band. The band, along with the rest of the North Dakota Army National Guard, was once again ordered to active duty, this time in support of World War II, serving in the Pacific. After its return, the band was reorganized, this time as the 294th Army Band. In 1959 the band was reorganized yet again as the 188th Army Band, and moved to its present armory in Fargo.

In more modern history, current individuals of the 188th Army Band have answered their country’s call and served their nation in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), KFOR (Kosovo) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving closer to home, individual members of the band have assisted with disaster relief efforts in North Dakota. The 188th Army Band was ordered to state active duty to assist with the floods of 2009 and 2011, and with the Dakota Access Pipeline situation in 2016.

The organization remains provides a broad spectrum of music, including concert band, marching band, Dixieland band, brass quintet, jazz band, dance and show bands, and various other small chamber ensembles. The 188th Army Band is under the direction of Warrant Officer James Landman and 1st Sgt. Jeff Pfingsten, both of Fargo.

The summer season of Music in the Park is made possible by News Dakota, Bridges Arts Council and Valley City Parks & Recreation. Bring lawn chairs (bleachers will also be available). A freewill offering is taken each night which is put toward the continued support of the City Park Bandshell.

Anyone with questions may call Diane at the Wellness Center at 845-3294.