Brigham Young University-Idaho's wind ensemble played at the Lincoln Theater last Friday evening, and their "American Salute" performance was, in a word, "memorable."

Forty-one young and gifted musicians on woodwind, brass and percussion instruments astounded and thrilled the audience as they drew from great American composers from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

Overtures, marches, patriotic numbers, show tunes and sacred music were delivered by talented young people from the "Gem State" known for its snow-topped peaks, clear streams and, among its variety of minerals, the "Idaho star garnet," a collector's treasure -- as was the ensemble.

The Lincoln Theater audience was privileged to hear these gems, and one standing ovation after another was the rule, not the exception, on Saturday evening.

From the traditional "Amazing Grace" through John Philip Sousa's "Jack Tar March," "Washington Post March" and "Sabre and Spurs," BYU-Idaho's ensemble filled the theater with music and filled our hearts with pride at being Americans.

Reed instruments, drums and brass poured forth with "Nearer My God To Thee" and that old hymn was played sweeter than I'd ever heard it played before -- a piece that brought tears to many eyes.

Then along came "October," a haunting refrain of a glorious and golden month fighting off the ravages of a bleak November and the bitter cold December soon to come. Somehow that piece painted a picture for me of a time in which we'd take the hits, then renew ourselves again and again. And isn't that the story of America?

As the ensemble concluded the program with Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" the audience was on its feet applauding. We had experienced something special and all of us appreciated the gift we'd just received.

A sobering stop

Before we entered the Lincoln that evening there was something Grandma and Grandpa wanted our grandsons Robbie and Phil to see. Just across the road from the theater stood the "Moving Wall," a scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

We walked slowly and silently by each panel, reverently scanning the names of more than 58,000 young Americans, most of them 19-and 20-year-old boys, who gave their lives for their country in a place very far away and now, very long ago.

My 9-year-old grandson, Robbie, reading some of the names on those panels and had observed, "There are so many Roberts here."

I didn't realize he heard me when I offered what I thought was a silent prayer. Robbie, a perceptive boy, asked "What was that prayer you just said, Grandpa?"

I looked at the young face of a boy I love so much and said, "Do you see these beautiful hills all around us and the canopy of trees we just drove through?" My pal said "yes," and I told him how much it hurt realizing that the boys whose names he was reading were just boys not much older than Robbie is now when they died. Boys who really never got a chance to live.

Robbie listened, then said, "But, Grandpa, what was the prayer you just offered up?"

I told him that it was written by a British officer named Siegfried Sasoon during World War I and I also told him that every time I visit the Veterans Home grounds, especially that night, that poem or prayer always comes back to me.

"But never, never/Heart forget/ For all this/Our youngest, best and bravest/died."

With my arm around my best pal's shoulder, we walked into the beautiful Lincoln Theater, and my faith in our nation was renewed by 41 young Idaho musicians who picked up the torch of freedom for all of us to savor and cherish.

It was one memorable evening.

Ev Parker can be reached at evjenpar@mailbug.com or 224-9956.