PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — Honoring the fallen through music.

Crowds visited Community Maritime Park on Monday for the 9th Annual Pensacola Memorial Day Concert as a tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedoms.

“Memorial Day is to honor those that are no longer with us,” Rodney Brown, Commander of the 151st Army Band from Montgomery, Alabama said. “Trying to keep with that legacy and give a little bit of tradition to the public that may not understand what it’s about.”

This year, the Pensacola Civic Band joined forces with the 151st Army Band, moving the crowd with their patriotic melodies.

“It’s the first time we’ve combined with this particular group and the sound is astounding. Holy moly,” Brown said.  

The concert gives people time to reflect on what the holiday is truly about.

“Pensacola is a Navy town, so we take our military service pretty seriously. I myself as an Army veteran,” Pensacola Civic Band Director Doug Holsworth said. “This has a special place in my heart as well because I’ve had some folks that I knew back in the day that were in the service who did fall. So for me personally, that’s part of me honoring my folks that I had that were part of that.”

“Remembering my brothers in arms and the people I’ve served with and places I’ve been,” Navy veteran and Pensacola resident Danny Thomas said.