44th Army Band participates in WSMR promotion ceremony

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – Members of our 44th Army Band participated in a May 28 ceremony here where Brig. Gen. Andrew Morgan was promoted to his current rank.

The 44th Army Band of the New Mexico National Guard is highly regarded as the first ever U.S. Military Band to include a mariachi contingent. In 2013, it was reported as something that “began as a Citizen-Soldier jam session” and grew into the first-ever U.S. Military Mariachi Group. Currently known as Mariachi Adelante (and formerly recognized as Mariachi Nuevo Mexico), it remains the first and only dedicated military mariachi group in the U.S. Army. There is no indication that Mariachi Adelante participated in the White Sands event; however, the 44th Army Band was present for the promotion of now Brig. Gen. Andrew Morgan. (Read more about the event: Army Astronaut, WSMR Commander Promoted to Brigadier General)

Morgan is the commander of White Sands Missile Range. An Army Astronaut and Space Operations Officer, Morgan was joined by two members of the recent Artemis II mission.

Photos courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Rebekah Delgado, 44th Army Band

Victor Glover and Christina Koch, the Artemis II astronauts, graciously posed for a picture with the 44th Army Band Soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul McLaughlin, Staff Sgt. Xinyu Yang, Sgt. Laura Pirard, Sgt. Elijah Eggleston and Sgt. Edmund Strominger represented the 44th Army Band and the New Mexico National Guard.