Paul Pickens introduces his WWII band buddies who performed with contemporary counterparts in the 42nd Division Rainbow Band at a concert at The Waterford. The national guard band, headquartered in New York, is the summer replacement for the vacationing post band on Fort Jackson. Veteran band man Paul Pickens orchestrated musical military history July 12- 13, 2008.

For seven years Pickens, a WWII tuba player, has organized the WWII 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division Band reunion in Columbia, usually in spring.

"When one of my contacts at Fort Jackson told me the 242nd guard band, now headquartered in New York, would be the post's summer replacement band, we immediately set our date to match theirs," Pickens said.

Every summer following the July 4th Tattoo, the Fort Jackson band packs up its instruments, and a National Guard band takes its place for two weeks. Never before had the guard replacement band been the same band in which Pickens and his band buddies played near the end of WWII.

"We were the U.S. band chosen to meet and rehearse with bands of the British, French, and Russian occupation forces. We were part of a four- power parade in celebration of the liberation of Vienna," Pickens said.

During a post- rehearsal reception honoring WWII and contemporary band members, war stories flowed freely. Paul Pickens (c) reminisces with younger members who served in Iraq in 2005. During summer 2006, Pickens returned to Vienna for a concert itinerary he arranged for Columbia's award- winning Wild Irish Band. He also handles logistics for a local German band and the Summer Band.

Meeting the contemporary musicians who are keeping the beat going more than six decades later was a highlight of the reunion weekend. The WWII band members rehearsed with the guard band on post for a Saturday evening concert. At an after- rehearsal reception Friday evening, veterans opened up their scrapbooks and shared recollections. The young players, anxious to learn their musical genealogy. They had some history to exchange; they had a tour of duty in Iraq in 2005.

Saturday evening the WWII musicians played with current players for a community concert given at The Waterford, a retirement community in Northeast Columbia.

A young trombonist from Long Island said meeting and playing with the WWII band members made everything come alive. "We are part of something much bigger than we realized."

The Summer Band schedule organized by Pickens continues with a concert Thursday, July 17 at Forest Pines. On July 24, the Summer Band will play at the Lowman Home, White Rock; on the 31st at the Presbyterian Home in Lexington, all Thursdays at 7 pm. On August 5, the Summer Band will perform at The Waterford on Windsor Lake Blvd. One Saturday performance, July 26, will be given at 2 pm at the Tucker Center, Harden Street.