The Saugerties Community Band, under the direction of Joe Drisgula, performing at the American Legion Memorial Day observance. (Photo by Will Dendis)
A performance of patriotic music by the Saugerties Community Band is one of the features of the celebration of traditional military landmarks at the American Legion Lamouree-Hackett Post 72.
Despite the recent death of its conductor, Charles A. “Tony Mitzel,” and the loss of its practice space, the band performed beautifully for the Memorial Day service at the post on the traditional Memorial Day. Mitzel was a founding member of the band and a member of Post 72.
The band was led by co-conductors Joe Drisgula and Wendy Lowe. The performance included patriotic music starting a half- hour before the ceremony and music during the ceremony. When veterans were called to come forward by service branch, the band performed that service’s song.
The band has used a room over the Inquiring Mind Book Store as a practice space for years, but the space was in poor condition and dangerous to occupy, Drisgula said. The owner of Inquiring Minds bought the building about six months ago and the band was asked to leave. The band is now looking at new space for practice.
Despite the adversity, said Drisgula, “the band members have strong and welcoming hearts, and they will continue. They’re going to hold it together.”
I am P.A. Lawrence and am very much alive; you can see me at the Orpheum Theatre. I sold the building to Brian Donohue, owner of The Inquiring Mind Bookstore ,last October. The Band paid a token rent for many years for s large space that was physically safe but needed work that a greater rent could produce.