Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band marches on as music ambassadors

Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band members Warrant Officer Steve Talbot (lead conductor) and Gunnery Sergeant James Holt (drum major and saxophonist) are on Saipan to perform at the 2018 Liberation Day festival. (Bea Cabrera)

Fifty-seven men in uniform from the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band—with musical instruments in tow—are on Saipan ready to play music and march to the beat in this year’s Liberation Day celebrations.

The band was established since the days of the Revolutionary War where they had the drums and fife leading the troop marines into battle and did the same during World War II. Today, they travel and do 400 performances a year to communicate national pride through music.

Fresh from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where the band is based, they perform around the island of Oahu as well as over the Pacific, according Warrant Officer Steve Talbot, lead conductor of the band.

“We get to put a face to the uniform as every time we play is an opportunity to be the ambassador of the Marine Corps… you hear about and see on television Marines doing amazing things and service to the country and people see us marching down the street it makes that human connection that we are all part of the same team. We are all celebrating the great country that America is,” he said.

“Every note that comes out of our instruments matters to someone and we recognize and respect that. We are just so thankful that people take the time out to listen to us, to let us communicate and share a musical experience with them,” Talbot added

According to Gunnery Sergeant James Holt, who is the drum major and plays the saxophone, the members of the band are all combat-trained Marines.

“We are ready to provide security when needed but we enjoy playing music and supporting the marine forces in the entire Pacific area of responsibility.”

“Marine musicians have to audition to be accepted so they have to be physically qualified to meet the demands of recruit training in the Marine Corps and they also have to be talented musically. After recruit and combat training they attend the Naval School of Music for six months and that’s where they earn the title marine musician,” he added.

The band is expected to play in three events while on Saipan—one was held yesterday at the American Memorial Park, which featured the jazz combo and brass band. The entire band is scheduled to march in celebration of the Liberation Day parade today at 3pm and back at the American Memorial Park tomorrow, July 5, at 2 pm featuring the jazz combo and brass band. The band will play military songs that promote patriotism as well as original compositions and current pop songs with dance moves.

“Sometimes we are the only Marines that people ever see… I can definitely say that we cherish the opportunity… Certainly for some children it is the first time they’ve ever heard military music and we take that responsibility with a great sense of pride. There’s a lot of travel but it is definitely we worth it and I would do this forever if I could,” Talbot said.

“We would like to say thank you for the time and we are honored to be here. We recognize the importance of this day and we hope that everyone can make it out so that we could celebrate together,” he added.

Holt likewise recognizes the importance of the Liberation Day that marks the 73rd anniversary of the opening of gates of Camp Susupe. “Liberation Day is always going to have a special place for the United States.”

“We would like to think that the Marine Corps and Saipan have a special relationship because of the history of what happened here in 1944. We are honored and humbled to be a part of the tradition. We hope we can uplift the spirits of the people when they see the Marines walk by and remember that the Marine Corps is here to help and we hope that everybody enjoy the celebrations,” he added.