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‘God Bless the USA’

Louwagie believes in song’s message

Photo by Mike Lamb Marshall Municipal Band musician Brad Louwagie tunes up his trombone before Wednesday’s concert at Liberty Park.

MARSHALL — The song “God Bless the USA” remains a popular symbol of patriotism and a tradition for Brad Louwagie.

He has been the singer of “God Bless the USA” at Marshall City Band 4th of July concerts since 2002. The song was written and recorded in 1984 by Lee Greenwood.

As a high school student in Marshall, Louwagie immediately liked the song when he first heard it.

“Some songs have a great melody and others have great lyrics,” he said. “This is one that has both. I liked the melody right away. I appreciated the lyrics more every time I listened to them.”

His annual tradition started because of an unplanned performance at Marshall’s 2001 All My Favorites concert.

The lead singer became ill a few days prior to the show. She was determined enough to sing at the dress rehearsal but not able to perform on concert night.

Some of the songs she was scheduled to perform could not be mastered by another singer on short notice, so the cast looked for other songs that could fill out the program.

“I chose ‘God Bless the USA,'” Louwagie said. “I learned the notes in less than a day. We had to scramble.”

The song was particularly significant because the concert took place after the 9/11 tragedy in New York and Washington, D.C.

Louwagie’s interest in music dates back to early childhood when he and his siblings would accompany their mother, Carol Louwagie, to educational programs at nursing homes. The kids learned about music even though they weren’t big enough to hold instruments.

When it came time to decide which one to play, he chose the trombone because of how much he looked up to his father, Don Louwagie.

“My dad played it,” Louwagie said. “I thought it must be a great instrument if it was the one he chose.”

As the kids began to grow up, their musical interest led to a family act that performed at events such as county fairs, festivals, and corn and soybean association meetings.

Family connections also influenced his decision to join the city band. He followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Rich and Terry.

Younger family members did the same thing. It has continued into another generation. The band’s trombone section in 2018 includes Brad, Terry, and Brad’s sons Max and Noah.

Louwagie hasn’t joined the band every year because sometimes he was busy with his day job as a computer software designer, a job that has often required travel. he returned every year, however, to sing “God Bless the USA.”

His belief in the song’s message is a main reason he’s chosen to make it an annual commitment.

“It’s all about national pride and unity,” he said. “When it mentions lakes of Minnesota, hills of Tennessee, the plains of Texas and Detroit, Houston, New York and L.A., it shows that we’re one country. It also symbolizes the value of freedom.”

Louwagie has also played in the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra and about a half dozen bands. His credits include playing keyboard and guitar for the band Screaming Cactus.

He had an unexpected opportunity to meet Greenwood after spotting him in a corridor at one of six casinos that were hosts on a tour of the Danny Dee Band. He and fellow band member Craig Marks decided to walk up and introduce themselves.

“We had a great conversation,” Louwagie said. “One of the things he told us about was a performance at near Walker. He said it made him appreciate having Minnesota lakes in ‘God Bless the USA’ and that it’s a place you can’t get to by mistake.”

His most recent favorite memory happened last year at the 2017 city band Fourth of July concert. While singing “God Bless the USA,” he looked at his mother who now faces Parkinson’s Disease.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” he said. “I blew several notes. It proves how we all should be dedicated to our families and our country.”

Marshall City Band Director Bob Meffert said he made Louwagie his first choice to fill a vacancy for singing “God Bless the USA” because of how well he performed in All My Favorites.

“I think Brad sings the song even better than Greenwood,” he said. “Brad is a very talented musician. It’s a pleasure to have him and several of his family members in the band.”

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