The Okanagan Military Tattoo has announced that the Vancouver Naval Veterans Band will perform at the second annual Okanagan Military Tattoo in Vernon this summer.
The band is said to be unique in Canada, the Commonwealth and likely the world because the founding members of the 20-plus member unit served in either the Royal Canadian Navy or in Canada’s Merchant Marine during the Second World War.
Many of its members were involved in the later stages of the grim Battle of the Atlantic, serving either in escort war ships or in cargo ships as Canada and the U.S. provided the vital convoys of food-stuffs, war material and personnel that constituted Britain’s lifeline.
The band’s founding members formed the unit 22 years ago. Soon after, to preserve their proud heritage, they began recruiting younger naval veterans plus civilian musicians.
The band serves as the de-facto home unit for HMCS Discovery in Vancouver, which has given the unit a home and band room since its inception.
Given the unique history of the Vancouver Naval Veterans Band, it has been selected to play the lead role in the annual Tribute to the Veterans portion at the Okanagan Military Tattoo. The band often conducts sing-a-longs during many of its varied appearances and it is expected they will play a couple of sets with Molly Boyd’s 100-voice Okanagan Tattoo Choir.
Two shows are planned for the 2015 Okanagan Military Tattoo, July 25 at 7 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m., at Kal Tire Place. Tickets are now available at the Ticket Seller box office, 250-549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca. More info is available at www.okanagantattoo.com.
