SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The “Destroyers”, the popular music group of San Diego-based Navy Band Southwest, journeyed to the Alamo City in support of Fiesta San Antonio 2017.
The band, consisting of six Sailors, performed at Winston Churchill High School April 24 before embarking aboard the Sea Services river barge to perform during the annual Texas Cavaliers River Parade on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk.
Joining the band at both events were crew members from the USS San Antonio (LPD-17) homeported at Naval Station Norfolk and Sailors from Navy Recruiting District San Antonio.
Prior to the band’s Churchill performance, Navy Capt. Edgardo Moreno, executive officer of the USS San Antonio and Command Master Chief Terry Wylie, along with other crew members, opened the show by introducing themselves to the students and speaking briefly about their lives aboard ship.
On April 25, the band headed to Memorial High School where lead vocalist Petty Officer 3rd Class Rachel Shuttleworth , along with her bandmates, brought the house down with their renditions of popular hits from today as well as some classic 80’s and 90’s favorites.
The students, including members of the school’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, jumped to their feet and danced in the aisles.
“This was a perfect opportunity for the kids to see what options they have in the military,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Roberto Luna, senior JROTC Army instructor.
A 2016 graduate of Memorial High School, graduate, Seaman Samantha Rodriguez, assigned to Navy Recruiting Station Ingram through the Navy Recruiting Assistance Program, was in attendance.
“It was so cool to see the band play and be back at my old school,” she said. “A lot of kids don’t even know the Navy has a band, so this was great for them to see.”
On April 26, the band played at Douglas MacArthur High School, their final school on the schedule.
After each school’s performance, the band members, joined by NRD recruiters, hosted question and answer sessions where they shared information about career opportunities and personal experiences in the Navy.
For more information on Navy programs and opportunities, visit http://www.navy.com.