Air National Guard bandsmen play for spectators along the parade’s Fifth Avenue route as part of its community relations mission. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer.

Members of the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest, stationed at the 182^nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, performed on March 17 at the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  The annual parade is the largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the nation.  Held for over 250 years, the parade marches between 150,000 and 250,000 parade participants each year.

The marching band was comprised of Air National Guard band members from the Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas Air National Guard units.

Air Force and Air National Guard bands support the global Air Force mission in war and peace by preserving national heritage, providing professional musical products and services for official military, recruiting and community relations events.