02-05-2025
Longmont Chorale will salute military veterans at concert this weekend
The Longmont Chorale will say a special 'thank you' to those who served in the U.S. military with its upcoming concert, 'Salute in Song.'
The concert, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, will be held this weekend inside the Vance Brand Civic Auditorium at Skyline High School, 600 E. Mountain View Ave.
The Longmont Chorale, a nonprofit performing arts group, invites all veterans to join the tribute from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Entry for all veterans is $5.
This is the first time that the Longmont Chorale has hosted a concert to honor military veterans. Roger Jurgens, who works with the Longmont Chorale, said the group was planning a similar salute to World War II veterans a few years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic ended up preventing that from happening.
'Any time you can honor veterans, I think, is very significant,' Jurgens said.
On Sunday, the Longmont Chorale will perform a selection of music meant to celebrate veterans, including 'Requiem for the Living.' The piece by Dan Forrest is written in the style of a Latin mass and has been performed internationally.
The concert will also feature a ceremony for Vietnam War-era veterans, in which they will be presented with a commemorative pin for their service. Vietnam War-era veterans are military members who served either at home or abroad between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975.
'They were not very well-received when they came back from the war,' Jurgens said of Vietnam War veterans. 'A lot of them refused to admit that they even were in the war, and they never wore their uniforms.'
Vietnam War-era pinning ceremonies have been held locally over the past few years, including at the Longmont's American Legion Post 32 and at Boulder's East Age Well Center.
Since this upcoming Veterans Day will mark the end of the commemorative pin program for Vietnam War-era veterans, the Longmont Chorale wanted to give eligible veterans an opportunity to receive the unique token. Pins will be presented to veterans who have not yet received their pins during the concert.
'There are a number of people who have never gotten a pin,' Jurgens said. 'It'll be a benefit for those people and everybody.'
The Longmont Chorale currently has over 100 members. Recently, the group was given the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Jurgens was one of the people who sang at the New York City venue with around 40 members of the choir in March.
'It was a thrill,' Jurgens said.
