Staff Sgt. Tony Cooper belts out a spirit-filled rendition of Michael Buble’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” during the 4th Infantry Division Band’s Mile High music performance team’s set at the holiday concert Dec. 10, 2015, at McMahon Auditorium. (Photo by Master Sgt. Brent M. Williams)
By Master Sgt. Brent M. Williams
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
“The time is now 1917,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Borrelli, wearing the uniform of a World War I doughboy, as the curtains at McMahon Auditorium opened to unveil Camp Greene, North Carolina, the birthplace of the “Ivy” Division. The stage decorated with ammunition crates and wool blankets featured a brass quartet of Soldiers in World War I uniforms who led the captivated audience through the inception of the 4th Infantry Division and Christmas 98 years ago.
The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson community celebrated the 98th birthday of the division and honored the heritage of some of the nation’s finest Soldiers during the holiday concert conducted by the 4th Infantry Division Band Dec. 10, 2015. The band performed Christmas classics and contemporary holiday hits for an audience of distinguished visitors, Fort Carson Soldiers, friends and Families gathered to commemorate the birthday and usher in
the holiday season.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, hosted the concert and welcomed Front Range community leaders and guests who attended the occasion to celebrate another year for one of the Army’s oldest divisions.
“In addition to being the division’s birthday, this December is particularly special as this is the first time in nearly a decade that all the brigades in the 4th Infantry Division have been on the post at the same time,” Gonsalves said.
He noted the rarity of having all of the brigade colors unfurled on Fort Carson as the division prepares to start another round of deployments for the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 10th Combat Support Hospital.
The division’s 61st commanding general reflected on the lineage of the Ivy Division and encouraged everyone to learn the proud and distinguished history of the organization now known as the “Iron Horse” Division.
“Even in the 240-year history of our Army, 98 years is a long time for the service of any unit. It is impressive to look back and consider what an important impact our ivy patch has had on American and world history, and also take pride in what contemporary Iron Horse Soldiers do every day to contribute to our lineage,” said Gonsalves. “Over the last century, the Soldiers of the Ivy Division have been on the forward edge of advancing freedom and American ideas that make this nation great.”
Following the commanding general’s remarks, the 4th Infantry Division Concert Band, led by bandmaster Chief Warrant Officer 3 George T. Bauer, performed classical and contemporary musical sets to open and close the holiday performance.
The concert showcased the many talents of the 4th Inf. Div.’s music performance teams, featuring the bands Iron Brass, Barkeley Avenue, Brass Authority and Mile High.
Soldiers of the 4th Inf. Div. Band selected and arranged 11 Christmas classics from “Winter Wonderland” to “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus,” and concluded with “Stille Nacht” and “Sleighride” as part of the evening’s salute to the 4th Inf. Div.’s first Christmas in 1917.
“It is our fervent hope that something here sparked your Christmas spirit,” Bauer said to the audience of more than 400 people.
Bauer also publicly thanked the Soldiers and NCOs of the band for their work and preparation for the evening’s event, highlighting the musicians who were responsible for choosing the evening’s music, as well as planning, preparing and training for the event.
“What you saw this evening was the combined efforts of everybody on the stage,” he said before leading the band on a boisterous version of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleighride,” which earned the band a standing ovation and encore performance.