Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: News

Former Navy pilot Roger Soremsem shows Dale VonBehrens, former Air Force bandsman, a photo of himself in a plane during WWII at "The Call To Duty" performance honoring veterans Tuesday night in the Dvorak Concert Hall in The Doudna Fine Arts Center. (Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern Wind Symphony honored local war veterans with a performance titled, "The Call to Duty" Tuesday night at the Dvorak Concert Hall in the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The halls of Doudna were decked with displays that held war photos, awards, medals and uniforms. The tables were set up by actual veterans from Charleston and surrounding areas.

One of these displays was prepared by Warren E. Miller, a World War II veteran who served in the Illinois National Guard from 1943-1945.

"I've shaken hands with death," Warren said.

Miller was very excited and enthusiastic about the event. He displayed pictures from his time in the service, as well as medals that he earned and his actual discharge papers.

Dale VonBehrens, a World War II veteran from Mattoon who served three years as a bandsmen in the Air Force and six months as a bandsmen in the Army, organized another display. VonBehrens was a member of the Eastern band in 1942 before joining the Air Force band.

"I believe this event is important because it keeps the memories going," VonBehrens said.

There were many veterans and families of veterans in the audience, as well as several Eastern students and faculty members.

"There was a great turn out tonight; the house was practically full," said Tony Curcuru, the Doudna house manager and a senior foreign language major. "It was hard to seat people because there was nowhere else to go with them."

There was music playing along with a screen that had a slide show of images. The images were symbolic of war in some way.

"The performance was outstanding," said Barry Houser, associate director of bands and director of athletic bands. "It was very powerful and moving with the music and media combined."

At one point in the performance, the sound effects were able to give off the effect of fighter jets flying over.

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