United States Coast Guard Band

U.S. Coast Guard Band
The U.S. Coast Guard Band pictured in 2009.
Active	1925 to Present
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Coast Guard
Type	military band
Role	public duties
Size	55
Part of	USCG Office of Public Affairs
Garrison/HQ	New London, Connecticut
Colors	Coast Guard Blue
Decorations	Coast Guard Unit Commendation
Website	http://www.uscg.mil/band/
Commanders
Director	LCDR Adam Williamson
Assistant Director	CWO Richard E. Wyman
Drum Major	MUCM Jonathan Towne
Conductor Laureate	CAPT Lewis J. Buckley (ret.)
Insignia
Emblem
Service Identification Badge

The United States Coast Guard Band is a military band maintained by the United States Coast Guard. Established in 1925 and classified as a "premier ensemble", the Coast Guard Band is stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut and is responsible for providing musical support to the Coast Guard Academy's corps of cadets, as well as other official Coast Guard events and ceremonies. During the summer months it undertakes national and international tours to promote the Coast Guard.

As of 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard Band is the Coast Guard's only professional musical ensemble (a second branch band, the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band, is an auxiliary-staffed organization).

In March 1925, the Coast Guard Band was organized with the assistance of Lt. Charles Benter, leader of the U.S. Navy Band, Dr. Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and John Philip Sousa, former director of the U.S. Marine Band. At the time of its establishment, it was primarily as a ceremonial unit responsible for supporting cadet activities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where it was stationed. In 1931 the Coast Guard Band was the principal military band for two of the days of the week-long observances of the sesquicentennial of the British surrender at Yorktown: October 17, thematically designated "Revolution Day", and October 18, designated "Religion Day".

An influx of new personnel into the Coast Guard during World War II stretched the band's capabilities and, for the first time, additional bands were raised by the Coast Guard to support stateside ceremonial and training requirements of the expanding force. In May 1943 an all-women's band, the Coast Guard SPAR Band, was activated at the Palm Beach SPAR Training Station. The Palm Beach SPAR Band, which had a strength of 35 personnel, was transferred to Washington, DC in 1945. While there it performed in the triumphal parade held for Admiral Chester Nimitz and participated in the mourning ceremonies for President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt, assigned to perform dirges at Union Station for the arrival of the funeral train carrying the president's body. The SPAR Band was deactivated in 1946.