I hope my returning readers haven’t been too frustrated with my recent lapses between blog entries. I’ve been unusually busy this tour, and most of my writing time has gone towards Army Field Band tasks and a graphic novel I’m trying to get out the door (more to follow on that soon, hopefully). But something happened tonight that compelled me to write a few lines.

Tonight’s concert was held at Oral Roberts University, a Charismatic Christian university founded by Roberts himself in the ’60s. I’ve played Tulsa many times, but don’t remember playing the University before. All I knew about the school coming in was the Honor Code students are required to sign, and the allegations of misappropriation of funds and misconduct that have dogged University officials in recent years. All that aside, they gave us a proper welcome. The concert was well-attended, a school official orated the audience into a patriotic froth before we performed, and we got standing ovations all night.

The mission statement of the Army Field Band was defined by our founder, General Jacob Devers, in 1946: “Carry into the grassroots of our country the story of our magnificent Army.” As great as the band is, we added an element to tonight’s concert that helped us do that better than we ever have, and I hope we do more of it in the future. Near the end of the show, a screen above the stage displayed a long list of names: Oklahoma natives who have fallen in combat since 2001. While the names slowly passed out of view, the Soldiers’ Chorus sang “Mansions of the Lord,” a heart-wrenchingly beautiful hymn written for the 2002 film We Were Soldiers. (Watch the West Point Cadet Glee Club sing the hymn here.)

Since enlisting in 2005, I’ve felt great pride to be a part of the same Army as Audie Murphy, Dick Winters, Hal Moore, and countless other American heroes. It’s an honor for me to play “Taps” for the funeral of a fallen Soldier; or the “Armed Forces Salute” honoring an audience full of veterans, some of whom were never honored while they were active duty; or to wear my uniform into a school and help American students become better musicians. I spent my education training to be a professional musician, and I love that I have an opportunity to play not just because I love it, but in the service of something important.

“Mansions of the Lord” was one of the most solemn moments I’ve ever felt onstage. The hymn is so beautiful it makes you physically ache. My usual feeling of pride was replaced with crushing humility, bordering on guilt. The concerts we play serve to honor our Soldiers, and to remind the American people of their sacrifices. It’s important work, and I’m proud to be a part of it. But in that moment, I wished I was doing more.