For most Delawareans, June marks the start of summer and vacation planning, but for units of the Delaware Army National Guard, including the 287^th Army Band, it means 15 days of intense Annual Training. 

The 287^th packed up for their new home at the Bethany Beach Training Facility where they spent 15 jam-packed days playing concerts, parades and ceremonies around the state of Delaware.

In addition to AT, both their stage band and the concert band are in full swing this summer playing anything from old jazz tunes, classical music and even marches.

Because the 287^th has been training at BBTS for the last six years, the demand for their talents and support has increased over the years. While on AT, they usually have concerts for the beach crowd and for the upstate crowd as well.

The stage band opened the schedule with a concert at Ocean Pines, then played a concert on the Boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach. The stage band then handed off to the concert band to begin its tour of the state.

Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach are the first stops on the tour. Even though one concert at Bethany Beach was rained out, the band overcame and played their hearts out in Rehoboth the next night.

Concerts at Bellevue State Park and a small concert of marches at the Cape May Lewes Ferry entertained a wide variety of music goers.

One of the band's most impressive performances was the Fourth of July concert on the Green in Dover. The 287^th was the showcase before the fireworks would begin.

Around 9:15 P.M. the band played the famous "1812 Overture." While the band was playing, there were cannons set up for rocket blasts.

The band intensely played at their best and the canons stood ready to fire, despite the rain. For the 287th, the show must -- and did -- go on.

The first set of cannon shots went off just at the same time a set of fireworks went off to simulate a 1812 cannon. The last set of cannon shots were fired at the end of the music and the start of the larger fireworks display. As soon as the band played the last beat of the song, the fireworks went up and the next portion of the celebration started.

The 287^th usually does plays about 17 concerts a year, which includes parades and change of command ceremonies.

Sgt 1st Class Mary Righos, flute player said, "We do as much as an active duty band does in a year."

There are 48 playing members, with ages ranging from 19 to 48, who work as everything from teachers to postal workers to full-time students in the civilian sector.