How do you get a crowd of people gathered for one of the most patriotic celebrations in Ohio on their feet without even playing patriotic tunes?

You put the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s rock band Systems Go on the stage.

For well over two hours, the six talented musicians who make up one of the 12 musical ensembles in the U.S. Band of Flight program performed a wide variety of rock, pop and country tunes from the past four decades to the enthusiastic crowd gathered for the first day of the annual Shreve Homecoming celebration.

While many members of the community have had the privilege of hearing the renowned U.S. Air Force Band of Flight present concerts of patriotic favorites, many more aren’t aware that the Air Force Band of Flight program is comprised of multiple performing groups.

In addition to the 45 piece Concert Band, which performs patriotic music, show tunes and marches, the program also includes a 20 piece jazz ensemble known as Night Flight, a brass quintet known as the Wright Brass, a woodwind quintet known as the Huffman Prairie Winds, a large brass ensemble known as Prism Brass, a seven member rock/pop/country ensemble known as Nighthawk and Systems Go.

According to information provided by the U.S. Air Force, Systems Go tours extensively throughout the school year to high schools across the Midwest, promoting the Air Force and the many opportunities it provides.

As part of the Band of Flight’s commitment to community relations and event support, the group also performs at fairs, festivals, amusement parks and a host of community sponsored events during the summer months. Combined with year round support of military ceremonies and events, Systems Go maintains an extensive performance schedule that relies on the talents and flexibility of its members.

Systems Go is made up of a talented group of musicians including Airman 1st Class Rogan Allen and Tech. Sgt. Toby McWilliams on guitar, Staff Sgt. James Smith on bass, Staff Sgt. John Sayre on drums, Tech. Sgt. Terra Mason and Senior Airman Kelly Perry on vocals and audio engineer Master Sgt. Jeffrey Sandru.

Based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Systems Go has performed at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Dollywood, on The Nashville Network and at major air shows throughout the Midwest United States.

Led by McWilliams, the members of this versatile group have performed with such musical greats as Bob Hope, Earl Thomas Connally, Stevie Wonder, Ricky Skaggs, Ben E. King, Bobby McFerrin and Lee Greenwood.

The performance by Systems Go was the finale of an evening of activities that marked the first day of the two-day Shreve Homecoming, which included the Parade of First Responders and the Shreve Supports Our Troops rally.

Shreve Homecoming concluded on June 9 with a series of family-oriented events including a garden tractor pull, the Fireman’s Water Barrel Contest, Shreve Businessmen’s Association chicken barbecue, a kiddy pedal tractor pull, a classic car cruise in, a performance by the rhythm and blues band Stick People and a fireworks display.

For more information on Shreve Homecoming visit the village of Shreve’s website at http://www.shreveohio.com.

The community will have the opportunity to hear more from the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight when Main Street Wooster presents a free concert in downtown Wooster on August 12, at 7 p.m., featuring the Air Force Band of Flight’s Prism Brass ensemble.

For more information on the Prism Brass appearance, log on to Main Street Wooster’s website at http://www.mainstreetwooster.org.

More information on the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight program can be found at http://www.bandofflight.af.mil.