Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-07-20
RAINBOW BAND
COMING JULY "a
Morgans Rainbow Division Band
Will Play at City Park De-
corah, Under Auspices
Anton Bernatz Post.
CONCERT WILL BE GIVEN
AFTERNOON AND EVENING
This Band Comes With an Inter-
national Reputation, And 1t
Will Be Found a Real
Military Band.

Morgans Rainbow Division Band,
formerly the famous old 168th, now
on its third annual concert tour
comes to Decorah with an inter-
national reputation ahead of it. Way
back in IT when the 16Sth Infantry
became a part of the famous Rain
bow Division, this band became its
intergral musical part. It's twenty
months of service overseas was fol-
lowed with an extended tour of this
country and every summer finds the
band living well up to its enviable
reputation, in fact critics say the
organization this season is better
than ever.
With the signing Of the armstice,
the band went with its Regiment
into Germany and dt it's stay
of several months, woi applause
and admiration of that ;ical music
al populace. Received first with
a spirit of hostility, band won
its way into the heart Sf the Ger
man people and they ,ught back
with them tokens of D. instead of
hate. No better examiS this can
be giHp than by the s-y related
by the director L. F. NJ Cans.
"The people of GerrF' ~ were at
first hostile to us, and q ,eived our
band with little favor as we marched
into the different towns. but when
we reached our final point of bivouac,
and played concert in the shadow
of one Of .tnctr historic cathedrals,
thes>o.se our first = a 81
angry curisoity, and thel .pplaud.
| never will forget the day We. were
to leave for home. We were ID
play our farewell concert, and it was
like leaving one home town to come
to another. We played a program
composed of folk and classical num-
bers and the concluding selection was
"Home Sweet Home. 1t meant the
same to those Germans as it does to
us, and when we concluded the piece,
| do not think there was a dry eye
in the vast crowd of civilians that
surrounded US. | know there was
not dry eye among the members
Of the band. We all shed tears that
day and we were not ashamed o.
them either. The people bade us
most affectionate goodbye and urged
us not to forget them"
Mr.. Morgans has surrounded him
self with company of 30 artists
this season and the band has been
greeted with enthusiastic audiences
everywhere and why shouldn't it be?
1t is Iowa's Own Band and after
creating a sensation along the Rhine
this famous old organization tours
its native state keeping alive in
memory the traditions of the Khaki
clad warriors of the late .war and
serving as living reminder of
Iowa's gallant contribution to the
forces of freedom.
The program this year includes a
variety of music combining popular,
standard and classic selections from
the worlds best composers. Marion
Morgans, dramatic soprano, is the
soloist and those who have heard
her sing, vouch for her as having
one of the most pleasing voices.
Those who look forward to hearing
again a real military band in march
ing formation will not be disappoint-
ed for arrangements for appearance
of the band in this city include a
free parade. The Anton Bernatz
Post No. 1853 of the American Legion
is bringing the band to the City
Park to offer the people real mus
ical treat, on Sunday afternoon and
evening July "a. A collection will be
taken up to defray expenses.