Service to Vets: The Stogie Five Entertains at VA Facility in Menlo Park

How very nice for me, to be able to provide service to wounded and other veterans at the Veterans Administration facility in Menlo Park today.  Our band played for two hours for a July 4th celebration attended by veterans from all wars, from the Korean War on.

We played outside in a square where tables and awnings had been set up, decorated with red, white and blue bunting.  Most of the vets, their families and volunteers were dressed in patriotic garb.  Picnic style food and soft drinks were served.

Several veterans approached us in the bandstand and said, "Thank you for doing this!"  We replied, "No, THANK YOU, thank you for your service."

As I was playing bass, a line of red, white and blue bunting came undone and draped me in red and white stripes and white stars on a blue field.  I kept playing anyway.  When a volunteer came over to retie the bunting, I told him, "I like to wrap myself in the flag!"

Here is the set list of songs that we played:

1. Peter Gunn Excerpt
2. Fever
3. Secret Agent Man
4. Moondance
5. Girl From Ipanema
6. Rio de Janeiro Blue
7. Why Don’t You Do Right
8. Rickie Don’t Lose That Number
9. Besame Mucho
10. It’s Too Late
11. My World Is Empty Without You
12. Whatever Lola Wants
13. Damn Your Eyes
14. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
15. That’s Why I’m Crying
16. Groovin’
17. Unchain My Heart
18. Crazy
19. Summer Time
20. Ain’t No Sunshine (When She’s Gone)
21. Stand By Me

Now I'm back home in Hollister, sitting in the back yard and enjoying the fireworks bursting in the night sky.  My dog Bogie felt that the explosions were a bit nerve wracking, so he retired to the house to hide under a bed.

Photos:  
Top, the band on the band stand.  I'm in the back with the hat.
2nd from Top:  Our sultry singer.
Bottom:  Stogie wraps himself in the flag.