Waltham American Legion Band keeps the music playing
For nearly 80 years the American Legion Band has been a fixture in Waltham, performing at parades, concerts and veterans’ events while welcoming generations of musicians into its ranks.
The band was officially founded in 1948 by Dorothy “Dot” Hill and her husband, Joseph Hill, the man for whom the legion post is named. Dorothy became the director of the band after her husband’s death and served in that position until her retirement in 1996.
She started the band with a collection of high school students, and the band has greatly transformed over the years.
Judy Manning, board vice president and flutist, joined the band in 1992 as the first woman – and was outnumbered at the start. Now, the band has about a 50-50 split of men and women.
For Manning, the friendships formed through the band have been just as meaningful as the performances.
“I love the camaraderie in the band. I have a few friends that have been here for many years, and we’ve traveled all over the world — to Canada, Hawaii and Ireland,” she said. “We’ve been a pretty active band.”
A trip to Russia in 1990, in fact, made history. The American Legion Band was the first American band to ever play in Moscow’s Red Square. The band performed “God Bless America” as part of the city’s annual Victory Parade.
Today the band consists of about 40 members, both veterans and civilians, ranging in age from teens to 80s and hailing from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. There has been an international flavor as well over the years, with temporary members joining from as far away as Brazil, Israel and the United Kingdom.
The band is a community organization consisting of three entities, a concert band, a marching band and a trolley band. A variety of music is performed by the concert band, while military selections are the primary focus of the marching and trolley bands.
Membership is open to all ages, and there are no fees or auditions. You don’t have to be affiliated or have served with any military branch or be a member of the American Legion to join the band.
Music Director John O’Toole, who started in 2010, conducts the concert band and provides the musical direction of all events and performances.
A Boston University music graduate, O’Toole also performs with the Wellesley Symphony Brass Quartet and the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra.
“This is a wonderful group of people that share a love for music,” O’Toole said. “The band has improved musically over the last few years as well. Everyone helps each other, and that cooperation makes a big difference.”
The Legion Band remains busy throughout the year, performing in more than 25 parades and 10 concerts annually. Next up is the Clam Festival Parade in Yarmouth, Maine, on July 17 and a concert at the Scarborough Veterans’ Home the following day.
As the band looks toward its next generation, Manning hopes more people will discover there’s a place for them.
“We’re always looking for new members to keep the band going,” she said. “Either playing an instrument, carrying the flag or being part of the honor guard – there are plenty of ways to contribute.”
For more information on the American Legion Band, visit the website at
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