The Good Life – January-February 2024

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY: RED RIVER VALLEY CONCERT BAND
Red, White and Da-Doo-Do!
WRITTEN BY: AMY WEISER WILLSON
Name a local band that plays roughly 40 concerts in a
nine-month period each year and – here’s the catch –
has members whose ages span seven decades.
Odds are there’s only one answer: the Red River Valley
Veterans Concert Band.
The band traces its roots to the post-WWII era, when it
began with the Fargo American Legion as the Gilbert
C. Grafton American Legion Post 2 Band. In 1997,
it expanded to include more musicians and veterans
and adopted its current name.
One of the 17 veterans in the 66-member band has
been a mainstay through much of that time. Bernie
McKigney served in the U.S. Army and was wounded
in the Vietnam War. After two years of active duty, he
spent another 30 years in the North Dakota Army
National Guard’s 188th Army Band. He joined the
Legion band nearly 50 years ago and served as its
director for four decades.
“I stayed committed to playing and/or directing first
because it was my gift back to veterans,” he said.
“Somewhere after being in the active Army bands, I
realized that music was indeed an important part of
my life and that I should continue doing it.”
He also directed the 9th District Minnesota American
Legion Band for about 30 years. All told, he figures
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