Summer means a lot of different things to us here in Maine. After a long trying winter we relish the blue skies, the fresh air, and the warm temps that finally make their way up to us in July. For the guys of NEVAH, July and summer have a very special meaning with an event dating back before we were actually a serious "group," - playing at the Veterans Home in Bangor Maine.
If memory serves me right, which at my age I begin to question, it has been over 10 years since we first visited and played for the Veterans for their yearly family cookout. At the time a loosely knit group of people, me, Kim my wife, Charlie Earley, Richard, Ed, Dr. Eric, Jack, Hal, and Dan Groshan happily accepted an invitation to offer up a little music for this event. Going under the name of "Never to Late" we played for an hour and a half and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Here were the people who put their lives on the line defending our great nation, many of them from what is now called the "greatest" generation, tapping their feet, dancing, and singing along to some songs they knew. Thoughts of my Dad and his brothers, all of whom served during World War II, flooded my mind and it was difficult to hold back the tears as the realization hit me that if it wasn't for all of these people we probably would not be there playing music and enjoying our freedom.
So here we are many years later eagerly anticipating our annual July performance which this year will take place on Thursday, July 10th. Some things have changed, members of the band, vets who have gone on to their reward, but the commitment from the band now named "NEVAH" remains the same - Honor those who have given so much to protect and preserve our freedoms, our Veterans.
It seems very fitting to me to post this today, July 4th - Independence Day - on the behalf of our current line-up Ed Russell, Richard Silver, Hal Meyers, Larry LeBlanc, Jack Anderson, Eric Brown, Richard Knipping, and yours truly Phillip Pitula - the men of NEVAH, so in the words and music sung by Kate Smith we say to you,
"GOD BLESS AMERICA"
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