PAGO PAGO, American Samoa -- For the third year in a row the United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Show Band and Party Band traveled more than 2,600 miles to American Samoa April 10.
The bands performed at five schools during the week, including Leone, Faasao, Samoana, Kanana and Manuamalo High School.
“This is a tremendous deal out here,” said Gunnery Sgt. Julius F. Nofo, an American Samoa Marine Corps recruiter from Kaneohe Bay. “The community has a big say in whether or not their adolescents can become a service member and these events give the Marine Corps a lot of exposure.”
Students poured into their Leone outdoor gymnasium that resembles a thunder dome from boot camp.
A flurry of spirited lava-lavas shuffled across the concrete as the students made siren sounds to declare their excitement for the show.
“I love when the Marine Corps comes and makes us dance with their party music,” said Leone native Catherine Adams. “We get to sing along to the music and hear something different then our music.”
Once settled, the students broke out into a glorious harmony of their school song and national anthem. The Marines watched in awe as the lovely vocals captivated them.
“When they started singing, I just closed my eyes and listened,” said Sgt. Matthew R. Cole, percussion section leader from Virginia Beach, Va. “They sound so beautiful and real.”
The party started once the band erupted into song.
The students went into a frenzy as the band members walked through the crowds playing their instruments.
Some students jumped on stage to dance, sing or even wipe the sweat off the band members from the sweltering heat.
“I jumped on stage two years ago when I was a sophomore and now I’m a senior, so I had to do it again,” said Ili’ili resident Loretta Hollister. “I’m really going to miss this,
and it’s a great memory that I have from high school.”
At each school the excitement grew as word spread on the island that the Marines were performing.
Locals lined the fences of the schools to watch and in town, the buzz was all about their upcoming concert for their 110th Flag Day ceremony April 17.
“We made this an annual event,” said MarForPac’s officer in charge Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan P. Sherlock. “The feedback we get back is extraordinary, and we love the opportunity to do this. American Samoa has more military members per capita
then any other U.S. territory, and we are becoming a part of their big Marine Corps tradition.”
After an hour and a half of music, the band packed up as students chanted “More, more!” They gave them a couple more songs to dance to and then headed out.
“This is always exciting for the kids,” said Leone High School Vice President
Dorian Salabea. “If the kids want to see more they can go to the big show later this week. However, we are lucky to have Gunny Nofo here all the time as a recruiter. He provides counseling for the students and for the kids [who] are not well off, he takes them under his wings.”