Jackson recognized at band concert

    The Washington Municipal Band played for a few hundred people at its concert Thursday, including a special guest from out of town. John Jackson, 95, of Fairfield, was in attendance to see the municipal band of which he was a charter member in 1932. Band director Tom McNamar had the band play the song ?Lassus Trombone? in honor of Jackson, who said the song was one of his favorites.

    Jackson and his wife Phyllis were also recognized Thursday for their $175,000 donation to the bandstand. Jackson said he wanted to provide something the entire town could enjoy.     

    ?A lot of people will use that bandstand for years to come,? said Jackson. ?I was tickled to death to do it. I was so glad to help something like that because it?s good for the whole city.?

    Jackson joined the municipal band when he was 17 and a junior at Washington High School. Jackson?s parents moved to Fairfield when Jackson was a senior, and instead of moving with them, Jackson lived with his grandparents for his final year of high school. Jackson then went to Washington Junior College for two years, which was on the top floor of the high school building.

    He later moved to Fairfield where he attended Parsons College, which occupied the land now used by Maharishi University of Management. Even after moving to Fairfield, Jackson continued to play in Washington?s municipal band. Jackson played in the municipal band for 10 years until he was called to active duty in the National Guard in 1942.

    When Jackson was a senior in high school, he joined the National Guard band in Fairfield. That year, Jackson went with the National Guard band to the World?s Fair in Chicago. He said playing at the World?s Fair was ?quite a deal.? Jackson said he was cool as a cucumber, even while playing in front of some very large crowds.  

    ?I wasn?t smart enough to be nervous,? he said. 

    Jackson?s unit in the National Guard ? the 133rd infantry ? deployed to Europe in January 1942. He was stationed in Ireland, England, North Africa and Italy during the war. Because he was in an infantry unit, it meant ?we got to do a lot of walking.? Jackson said he played for London?s high society and at various Air Force bases during his tour of duty.

    Jackson returned from the war in 1945. Shortly thereafter, he and other National Guard members started the 34th Army band in Fairfield. Jackson played in the 34th Army band until 1974 when he turned 60 and could ?start drawing a little pension.? A number of Jackson?s Army bandmates attended the concert Thursday and shared their memories of playing alongside Jackson.

For the full story, see the Aug. 6 edition of The Washington Evening Journal