Photo by Danielle Kyle U.S. Air Force band, Celtic Aire, performed at Fort Belvoir\'s USO Warrior and Family Center as part of a cook-out for servicemembers and military Families, June 19.
By Brittany Carlson/Belvoir Eagle Staff writer
It's not every day that a father gets to dance with his daughter.
So when Capt. Seth Holland's 10-year-old asked him to dance during a performance by the U.S. Air Force band, Celtic Aire, he said "yes."
The Irish-style folk band performed for the first time at Fort Belvoir's United Service Organizations Warrior and Family Center Wednesday night as part of a free barbecue event.
"We live here on post and decided to come enjoy some time together," said Holland, who works at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, and attended the event with his wife and three children.
Celtic Aire's sound is unique.
On Wednesday, the four band members played 13 different instruments and sang. Sometimes, one person would play three or four instruments simultaneously. The instruments, which include a mandolin, violin, Irish sitar, mini accordion and Irish drum (called a "Bodhram") give each song a traditional Irish feel.
"They're really good," said 13-year-old Megan Earton, who listened to the band from a picnic blanket with some friends. "It's like folk music, and I like music like that."
Celtic Aire is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, and normally travels around the U.S. performing for both military and civilian audiences.
Band member Air Force Tech Sgt. Joe Haughton was excited sharing his music with another military community.
"It's one of my favorite audiences, because we already are sharing so much, serving and being Family members of those who serve," he said.
The feeling was mutual for Sgt. 1st Class Willie Young, a military policeman assigned to the Military District of Washington Provost Marshal Office, who said the concert provided a nice break from daily operations.
"Being here is a focal point for the community and it's also just a good off-duty activity, just coming here to have to good time," he said.
More than 75 military and Family members attended the event, according to K.J. Stevens, USO programs coordinator. While Fort Belvoir's USO -the largest in the world - already hosts a variety of weekly events, Stevens hopes to add more concerts like this one to the repertoire, especially since the band represents another branch of the military.
"We are hoping to lift morale," she said. "There are a lot of different branches that are on the base and in the area and it helps create a sense of community amongst all the branches."
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