The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will bring their “America the Beautiful” performance to the Journey Bank Community Arts Center at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 29.

Sponsored by the law firm of Casale, Bonner, Hillman and Southard, PC., the stop on their summer 2026 tour is free for all to enjoy, but for Bret Southard and wife, Denise, that sponsorship carries a special meaning.

“Our daughter, Amanda, is a captain in the army, so anything military related is near and dear to our hearts,” said Denise.

Suggested by law partner Brad Hillman, the Southard’s were immediately on board with the sponsorship.

The law firm previously sponsored the city’s annual Set The Night To Music celebration, and with its absence during the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, bringing the Army Band and Soldier’s Chorus to town felt like the perfect supplement.

“It’s the birthday of our country, and if we can, in some small way, help celebrate it, we think it’s awesome,” Denise said.

Both Bret and Denise come from families steeped in military tradition, with Denise’s father and brother and both of Bret’s grandfathers having served.

Daughter Amanda, who graduated from West Point in 2021, knew from an early age that service to her country was in her future.

“When she was in high school, we started getting these brochures from the Naval Academy from West Point, and I was like, ‘where did these come from?’ She’s like, ‘oh, I sent away for them. I think I want to join the military.’ And this was when she was in eighth grade,” Denise said, adding that Amanda’s high school career was built around that goal.

“She was a three sport athlete, she played instruments, she was involved in music. Everything Williamsport High School had to offer, she took advantage of it,” she said.

“We really experienced everything with her, from going to school at West Point, to transferring from base to base, being deployed last year. We’ve really got to see what army life is like as her parents,” Denise said.

“As parents, we’re very proud of her, but we’re also very nervous a lot of the time,” she added.

Although she was active in music in school, Amanda’s duties as a Black Hawk pilot does not leave much room for other activities, Denise said.

“She’s played piano since the time she was three years old, and she plays by ear. She can listen to a song, and she can sit at a piano and just and recreate it,” she said, adding that during her first year, Amanda was not allowed a keyboard until her second semester.

“I remember her saying how much she missed it. And even last year, when she was deployed in Eastern Europe, she ordered a cheap little keyboard that she left behind, but music is very important to her, and it makes a difference,” Denise said, adding that music provides an incredible lift to new recruits.

“At West Point, first week there is the week of July 4, and it’s a grueling, frightening, terrifying week, and they had a celebration with music on July 4, and Amanda still talks about just how amazing it was to have the band there and the rock band there,” Denise said.

Denise said she and Bret are excited for the community to experience the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus for themselves.

“Not just the music, but the pageantry that goes along with it. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to see that aspect of the military,” she said.

“People often think that the military is soldiers and fighting. There’s a whole other aspect to it,” she said, also noting the patriotism on display.

“People don’t always necessarily appreciate the military, and I think having the opportunity to listen to a military band in the community is a wonderful opportunity for people to realize there are different aspects to the military, and hopefully come to appreciate and support the military at large,” Denise said.

“Amanda’s not married, she’s single, so we are her family. When she moves or deploys, we’re right there with her, and it’s a tough life that these people choose to serve their country,” she said.

“A lot of people think, ‘oh, they get paid, or they get this, or they get that,’ but they sacrifice an awful lot. And those with families, when they have to leave their children for nine months at a time, it’s a lot, and I think they’re often under-appreciated,” Denise said.

For Casale, Bonner, Hillman and Southard, PC., the opportunity to sponsor the event also serves as a chance to show the public a side they don’t often see.

“When you need to see an attorney, it’s usually because something’s gone wrong in your life, so it’s nice to be able to give something to the community that is a joyful thing,” Denise said.

“It’s not like just being able to tell our clients, ‘we’re sponsoring this,’ it’s a happy thing. And it’s nice to see a law firm attached to something happy, not necessarily divorce or crime or whatever it happens to be,” she said.

“It’s nice for the firm to be able to provide some happiness and a good experience for the community,” Denise said.

“I hope that people will come out and take advantage of the opportunity to see this part of the military, to support the military and to show love for our country, because I feel like today not everybody loves our country, and this is a wonderful opportunity to kind of share that love of the country and of our military,” she said.