News Release

‘Salute to Veterans’ Tribute at the Gateway Arch Features 399th Army Band Missouri Brass Quintet

Date: October 13, 2022
Contact: Nicole Schulenburg, 636-530-1235 ext. 227

Honoring the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. military veterans, the program will feature a performance by the 399th Army Band Missouri Brass Quintet based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The performance, which will include both patriotic and traditional repertoire, is expected to run about an hour.

“We’re thrilled to once again honor our veterans and their families through this musical tribute in front of the Arch, and we hope you’ll join us in recognizing them,” said Ryan McClure, executive director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “We are eternally grateful to all U.S. veterans who have given so much for our country.”

Salute to Veterans is free and open to the public, with support from Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. For more information, visit archpark.org/veterans.

WHAT: Salute to Veterans Concert
WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 2022, 1-2 p.m.
WHERE: Luther Ely Smith Square on the Gateway Arch National Park grounds, located between the Old Courthouse and the Arch entrance plaza. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center.
COST: Free and open to all ages

National Park Service Fee-Free Day: Friday, November 11 
The National Park Service has designated Veterans Day on Friday, November 11 a fee-free day, in which the entrance fee at all NPS sites is waived. At Gateway Arch National Park, the $3 entrance fee included in each adult Tram Ride to the Top ticket and adult Documentary Movie ticket is waived. Plan your visit and get your tickets at gatewayarch.com.

Gateway Arch Visitor Reminders 
Arch visitor parking is available at the Stadium East Garage in downtown St. Louis. Please visit gatewayarch.com/parking for more information and to pre-purchase parking. With each parking purchase at the Stadium East Garage, $1 will support educational opportunities and community programs at Gateway Arch National Park through Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

About Gateway Arch Park Foundation: 
Gateway Arch Park Foundation is the official philanthropic partner and conservancy for Gateway Arch National Park. Its mission is to ensure the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public spaces, and attractions are a vital, welcoming, well-supported resource to the community and nation for generations to come. It seeks to fulfill its mission by providing for ongoing conservation, preservation and education at the park, in addition to hosting, facilitating and promoting community programs that bring the park and its surrounding areas in Downtown St. Louis to life. The Foundation is part of an alliance that helps meet this mission, which includes the National Park Service, Bi-State Development, Great Rivers Greenway, Jefferson National Parks Association, and the City of St. Louis. For more information, visit ArchPark.org.

About Gateway Arch National Park:
Gateway Arch National Park is a unit of the National Park System that commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a unified continental nation and St. Louis’ role as the gateway to the American West during the 19th century and preserves the Old Courthouse as the site of the Dred Scott case. The park includes the Gateway Arch, the Arch grounds and the Old Courthouse, located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Old Courthouse is currently closed. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Most programs are FREE of charge and open to the public. Many programs and events at the park benefit from the generous support from park partners Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Jefferson National Parks Association, and Bi-State Development. For more information about Gateway Arch National Park, visit NPS.gov/jeff.

About the 339th Army Band:
The 399th Army Band has been the premier musical organization of Fort Leonard Wood for over 60 years. The band was first activated on June 1, 1944, as the 399 Army Service Forces Band in Naples, Italy. Originally assigned 27 enlisted soldiers and no officers, this band performed at concerts, parades, dances, and ceremonies throughout Europe. The unit earned battle credit for participation in the ROME-ARNO Campaign in 1944 and the Central Europe Campaign in 1945. On September 5, 1946, the band officially accepted its current name, the 399th Army Band.

The primary mission of the 399th is to provide musical support for soldiers and units on post, and to perform throughout Missouri. The band performs in various capacities, from full concert band and marching band to smaller ensembles such as a rock band, jazz combo, brass band, woodwind quintet, and brass quintet. The Missouri Brass Quintet is an award-winning ensemble of musicians from all over the country with a combination of over 40 years of service and 10 decades of playing experience. The ensemble performs at a variety of functions such as promotion ceremonies, change of commands, and community outreach events.