Eleven cannons to fire Sunday

Gala program

in Riverside

Park

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Hang on to your hat is you're downwind of Sunday afternoon's Thunder in the Valley program in Riverside Park.

New Ulm Battery First Lieutenant John Fritsche said the eagle's nest in the Minnesota River Valley should be safe from sound vibration. But then, sounds of this magnitude have never taken to the air in this area, at least in recent years.

New Ulm's 150th Anniversary Concert will feature the New Ulm Municipal Band playing a wide variety of American and German numbers.

A six-horse hitch will pull in 11 cannons at 1:30 p.m. Colors will be presented by New Ulm American Legion Post 132 just prior to 2 p.m. when the music begins. Songs will be played for more than an hour.

Cannons including the New Ulm Battery's trio and others from Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota will take part in the gala event.

Later in the concert, during the 1812 Overture, cannons will be fired upon direction along with bells from six different New Ulm churches.

Fritsche said that tents were set up Friday for the Riverside park event.

The Star Spangled Banner leads the musical list. Following are "Bandology," "National Emblem," "Grub an Kiel," "Deutschmeister Regimentmarsch," "Schunkel Parade," "American Patrol" and "Themes Like Old Times III." Themes include "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes At Me," "My Melancholy Baby," "Ain't We Got Fun," "Moonlight Bay," and "After You've Gone."

The song list continues with "Semper Fidelis," "Egerlander Leidermarsch," "The Klaxon," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "The 1812 Overture," "Amazing Grace," with Keith Allison on the bagpipes, "Taps," on the bugle by William Crowder and Retreat - Return of the Colors," with Crowder on the bugle.

Cannons will fire again after the music is completed.

Spectators are urged to bring lawn chairs. Food and beverages will be available.

Fritsche said the program will be the biggest event for the New Ulm Battery until it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2013.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band will play in concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Martin Luther College.