Through spirited movement and uplifting music, Mary Hein, the wife of veteran Army Ranger Christopher Hein, celebrates the courage, discipline, and unity that define our nation’s armed forces in this joyful tribute. Presented annually as a signature work for the Ballet’s 'Salute' Veterans Day concerts, this piece stands as a heartfelt expression of gratitude and pride, honoring all who have served and continue to serve, protecting the freedoms we cherish.

Choreography: Mary Hein (2024)
Music:  “Armed Forces Medley" by the U.S. Marine Band, 
“Patriotic March of the Cadets” by Patriotic America, 
“America the Beautiful” performed by the U.S. Navy Band, 
and “Strike Up the Band” by George & Ira Gershwin

Vocalists: Allen Adair, Chris Alfonso, Crystal Glenn, Hannah Hall
Costumes: Ty Cooper Grace
Dancers: Hannah Adamczak, Say Ayers, Luigie Barrera (3/14), Daniel Miller (3/21), Gabriella Fedewa, Eden Heille, Yui Kaito, Isaac Lee, Ryland Mettee, Adelyn Nicholson, Alyssa, Robey, Kathryn Tokar Conley

U.S. Army – “The Army Goes Rolling Along”

Original Title: "The Caisson Song" 

Composer: Edmund L. Gruber, 1908

Lyrics Adapted By: Harold W. Arberg (official 1956 version)

Originally written as a field artillery song, John Philip Sousa later arranged it, and in 1956 it was adopted as the official song of the U.S. Army with updated lyrics.

U.S. Navy – “Anchors Aweigh”

Composer: Charles A. Zimmerman, 1906

Lyrics: Midshipman Alfred Hart Miles (1906)

Written for the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 1907 as a football march. It became widely adopted as the Navy’s unofficial anthem and was later adapted to represent the entire service.

U.S. Coast Guard – “Semper Paratus”

Composer: Francis Saltus Van Boskerck, 1927

Van Boskerck, a Coast Guard officer, wrote both the lyrics and music. He composed the music in Unalaska, Alaska, using an old piano in a fishing village.

U.S. Air Force – “The U.S. Air Force” (a.k.a. “Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder”)

Composer: Robert MacArthur Crawford, 1939

Crawford won a contest to compose the official song of the Army Air Corps (precursor to the Air Force). It was adopted officially in 1947 when the Air Force became a separate branch.

U.S. Marine Corps – “The Marines’ Hymn”

Composer (Melody): Jacques Offenbach, from "Genevieve de Brabant" (1867)

Lyrics (Traditional): Author unknown (first known lyrics circa 1919)

The melody comes from Offenbach’s operetta. The lyrics reference historic Marine battles (“From the Halls of Montezuma / To the Shores of Tripoli”) and are believed to have evolved informally before becoming standardized.

“Patriotic March of the Cadets” (Unknown Composer)

Driven by the snap of snare drums, this section highlights the power of percussion and the athleticism of two male soloists, showcasing rhythm, precision, and bravura.

“America the Beautiful” - see earlier program notes for the full history of the work

In this instrumental setting, performed by the U.S. Navy Band, the music’s broad, lyrical sweep becomes the foundation for a reflective pas de trois.

Strike Up the Band

Originally written for the Gershwin brothers’ 1927 musical of the same name, this brassy, high-energy favorite launches the finale with Broadway sparkle—building toward a jubilant curtain call.

George & Ira Gershwin (1898–1937 | 1896–1983) George and Ira Gershwin were a legendary American songwriting team whose collaborations helped define the sound of 20th-century American music. George, a composer, and Ira, a lyricist, combined classical sophistication with jazz and popular idioms to create iconic works for stage and screen. Together, they wrote enduring hits such as "I Got Rythym," "Embraceable You," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Summertime," and "Strike Up the Band." Their music captured the exuberance and complexity of the American spirit, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire artists across generations.