PALM COAST, Fla. (December 18, 2022) Giving residents a holiday gift, the Flagler Auditorium welcomed the Navy Band Southeast on Sunday for two free shows.
Filling seats guests were treated to more than an hour of holiday selections ranging from The Nutcracker Suite to Jingle Bells.
Audience members sat enraptured as the band performed the ‘Overture’ and the ‘Arabian Dance’ from the Nutcracker before launching into the spirited ‘Trepak’, followed by the ‘Rhapsody for Hanukkah’, as the first candle was lit in celebration of the Festival of Lights.
Of course, nothing could top an appearance by Santa, who in addition to greeting patrons throughout the audience, picked up a bass guitar to jam with the band.
Vocalist 2nd Class Emily Kershaw delivered ‘Everybody’s Waitin’ for the Man with the Bag’ to coincide with the jolly old elf’s appearance.
A portion of the evening’s program was dedicated to Bunnell native James “Jim” Booe, for whom the Flagler/Palm Coast Disabled Veterans of America chapter is named. Relatives of the U.S. Navy Bandmaster, killed in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor while stationed on the USS Oklahoma, were in attendance including noted historian and archive curator for the Flagler County Historical Society, Sisco Deen.
“When I found out the Navy Band was coming, I called the band in Jacksonville and said, you know, my (great) uncle went down with the Oklahoma, and he was a band director. I said, could you maybe dedicate it to him? And they said, lovely, we’d be glad to. So, they’re dedicating the concerts to him,” said Deen proudly.
Several members of the Deen family were in attendance including Sisco’s brother Joy & Linda Deen, sister, Claudia & Butch Malo, and his son Devin Deen, in addition to his own wife Gloria, all on hand to enjoy the evening and dedication.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Joy Deen.
Loyal to the core, the Navy Band drew retired naval officers to the event. Florida Inland Navigation District Commissioner and retired Navy Captain Randy Stapleford was joined by his wife Rhonda, daughter Allison Krall and Carl Quaney, an outreach specialist for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“Being a former military veteran myself it’s very important to have extracurricular activities while in the military service because sometimes it can be an extremely stressful job. Being able to come out and support them and their endeavors, especially during the holidays, it’s amazing,” Quaney said.
“It is amazing to have the Navy Band here tonight and having that local tie-in is even more amazing,” said Stapleford. “How better could you celebrate?”
Seeing near full houses, back to back in a single day brought joy to Flagler Auditorium director Amelia Fulmer, as well.
“We’ve been giving away free tickets for the last six weeks and everybody’s been getting excited about it and the great show with the Navy Band,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful Christmas show and it’s a great way to ring in the holidays, meet some new people, make some new friends. Every year when we have this we bring new people in right in time for the holidays.”
