On Saturday, May 30, the Boyertown Alumni Band will be playing at the Boyertown Community Park at 7 p.m. The concert is an annual event during Fun Days, but this year, it will feature something special.
The band pavilion in the park was dedicated to General Carl A. Spaatz in 1980, and this year there will be a rededication of the pavilion, and an unveiling of the new Carl A. Spaatz marker. The marker will be placed near the bridge, along the walking path in the park, so it can be enjoyed by all members of the community.
Carl A. Spaatz is a native to Boyertown. He was an American World War II general, and the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
In 1945, Spaatz was nominated by President Truman to be given the permanent rank of General, and was appointed Commanding General of the Army Air Forces in 1946. When he retired from the military, he worked at Newsweek magazine as its military affairs editor until 1961. During retirement, he also worked on the congressional advisory board to determine the site for the United States Air Force Academy. He died in 1974 and is buried at the Academy’s cemetery in Colorado.
“Many people don’t know about our general,” says Dennis Frey, the Boyertown Alumni Band’s first band captain, and a member of the Carl A Spaatz Foundation. “He was a very important man. We really want more young people to know about him and his work.”
On Saturday, the Boyertown Alumni Band will play the national anthem, as well as their “Carl A. Spaatz March” and some WWII selections. They will be dedicating their concert to the 70th anniversary of WWII. A brief history about General Spaatz will be shared.
Fun Days will be held at the park on Thursday, May 28 to Saturday, May 30. The rain date for Saturday events only is Sunday, May 31.
The tradition of fireworks will kick off at approximatley 9:45 p.m. to unofficially end this year’s Fun Days event.
