Honoring the 200TH Anniversary of the Lowville Village Brand

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Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 200th anniversary of the founding of Lowville Village Band. Originally known as the Union Band upon its formation in 1826 the founding members began a tradition of playing music in the local park. The band changed names several times it is first 100 years reflecting the instruments they played, the Union Band reformed as the Lowville Saxhorn Band in 1856. During this time the band would perform all over Northern New York and even into Canada. These performances were part of parades, festivals, and private parties as well as sometimes on steamboats. During the Civil War their performances dwindled as other duties called members away but following the war they reformed as the Lowville Cornet Band before a local philanthropist, Francis K. Leonard donated silver instruments to the band along with other generous donations leading them to rebrand as the Leonard Silver Cornet Band. Four years later they chose to rename themselves the Lowville Cornet & Orchestra Band. Over the years the band has been led by extremely talented musicians, including Franklin A. Thompson, who had previously played with the United States Marine Corps Band and Buffalo Bill Wild West Show Band; Luther Askin, who helped found the New York State School Music Association and Lowville Academy Band, and Perl Johnson, who served in World War I as a member of the American Expeditionary Force and led field music for the 310th Infantry Regiment. In the 1930s the band officially became the Lowville Village Band, the name it has held ever since. Today, the band's ensemble consists of approximately 50 brass, woodwind, and percussion musicians who range in age from 14 to 80. The band hosts a very popular summer concert series where they play marches and patriotic music from the past at the Lowville Veterans Memorial Park. On behalf of New York's 21st District, I recognize the Lowville Village Band for 200 years of bringing music to the Village of Lowville and communities across our region.

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