Air Force Reserve Band Members Upset About Missing Final Show

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It was supposed to be the last performance for the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Instead, the five members of the band’s rock ensemble, Reserve Generation, spent their evening at McConnell-Talbert Stadium packing up their equipment and preparing to say goodbye.

The band is being dismantled, and starting Thursday, its members will be reassigned to other bases all over the country.

“We signed off the base this morning at like 9, and then we were going to come and do this,” says Staff Sgt. Josh Byrd, who plays guitar in the band.  “Yeah, it stinks.”

The band was scheduled to perform Wednesday with Warner Robins native Bobbie Eakes and southern rock group, Stillwater.

Instead, rain stole the show, but Mayor Chuck Shaheen says it will happen Sunday night.

“The main thing we’re concerned with is safety for our citizens,” says Shaheen.  “It’s at a point now where it may cause some safety issues to our citizens.”

Bobbie Eakes and Stillwater will be back on Sunday, but just two members of the Air Force Reserve Band will still be in town to join them.

Senior Airman Michelle Hooper, who plays keyboards, says it’s an unfortunate way to end the band’s decades long history in middle Georgia.

“We brought in a live producer from Nashville to write the show for us, and (it was) a really good show and we were really confdent about it,” says Hooper.  “We just wanted to offer it to the community, but now we cant.”

Despite the change of plans, Shaheen remains upbeat about Sunday and says it’ll still be a day to honor the Air Force Reserve Band.

“We wish it’d been a little different turnout,” says Shaheen.  “But our city can work through a lot of different issues.  Whether it’s weather or war, we’re gonna pull together and move our city forward.  We’re very resilient, and I think Sunday’s going to be a great day.”

Gates open at 6 on Sunday and the concert starts at 8.  Fireworks will follow the concert.