LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Tribute to the Troops to honor military


Photo provided

It is a Lafayette favorite - with a backdrop of the setting sun by the tranquil waters of the Lafayette Reservoir, the Tribute to the Troops concert will be taking place on Saturday, July 13 from 5 p.m. to twilight on the stage located up to the east of the parking lot.

This free annual concert is an opportunity to honor and show support for active members of the military, reservists, national guards, veterans and families of fallen heroes. Attendees are encouraged to wear their uniforms.

This year, as in previous years, the 36-piece Big Band of Rossmoor, first established over 27 years ago, will be providing the music. The band is comprised of musicians aged 14 to 95.

Also this year there will be a special guest - Lafayette's own David Martin with Rob Ross from David Martin's House Party. Martin, it's rumored, can play anything from 1960 onward. Martin is an Acalanes graduate who got his start in the business at the Happy Valley Elementary School sixth grade graduation and at a Kiwanis pancake breakfast and went on to establish himself as one of the Bay Area's premier party bands.

People are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic. There will be shuttle service provided from the parking lot to the bandstand area for those needing assistance.

Special recognition will be given to the Blue Star moms who have family serving and to Gold Star families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. They will be joined by several veterans' organizations including members of the Marines Memorial Club of San Francisco and Lafayette Boy Scouts Troop 243. Representatives from the Veteran's Center who support returning veterans will be on hand.

The event is hosted by the Lafayette Rotary.

"We are delighted to support this event over the last five years at a band stand that Lafayette Rotary built and has maintained," says Lafayette Rotary President Terry Ring.

For the second year Aegis Living of Moraga is underwriting the event.

"Our veterans and their family deserve our support and we are honored to underwrite this event that supports this important community," says Aegis Director of Marketing Molly Gleason-Kodama.