by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The military presence in Jacksonville is scheduled to grow by 300 during the last weekend in September.
The U.S. Army’s “Spirit of America” will make its first appearance in Florida Sept. 23-24 with four free shows.
The performances feature about 300 active duty soldiers from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. They will perform re-enactments of battles from the Revolutionary War to the present on the floor of the Arena.
The battles will be framed through historical accounts, taken directly from soldiers’ letters and diaries, providing the storyline for the drama.
The performances are designed to present the history and development of the U.S. Army from its origins through the wars, conflicts and missions.
“There are different scripts for each show, so guests see something new each time,” said Debbie Lewis, team chief for Spirit of America.
Along with actors, “Spirit of America” features the U.S. Army’s ceremonial units. Included are U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and soldiers from the Third U.S. Infantry Regiment called “The Old Guard.”
Elements of the Old Guard include The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the Caisson Platoon, the Commander in Chief’s Guard, the Continental Color Guard and the U.S. Army Drill Team.
The arena will seat about 8,700 people for each of the four shows. The first show is 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23 and is designated as a schools’ show, but the public can attend. It will be followed by a show at 7:30 p.m.
Show times Sept. 24 are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“Spirit of America” will visit Washington, D.C., and North Charleston, S.C., for the 2011 tour. The show is limited in location because its performers are active duty soldiers and they cannot be more than a day’s travel from Washington, D.C., where they are based.
“When they are not involved in the show, they are day-to-day soldiers,” said Julie Baker, public affairs representative for Spirit of America.
The shows are free, but tickets are required. They can be acquired through mail order, at the Arena box office or through Ticketmaster, but there will be a processing fee for purchasing through Ticketmaster.
For more information, visit www.spiritofamerica.mdw.army.mil.
356-2466