LARGO – On June 14 hundreds of people will flock to one of the county or municipal government’s park for Flag Day, to show their patriotism and love of country.
Kurt Klotz has done them one better.
He went to the Pentagon and played for senior government officials in a ceremony themed “For the Love of America” on Feb. 6. It was billed as the Pentagon’s way of expressing its love for the troops.
The 51-year-old Largo resident, who plays the French horn in the Veterans Administration National Medical Musical Group Orchestra, traveled with the group of volunteers to D.C. to play before about 150 people, including Cokie Roberts and Ed McMahon.
He’s been a member of VA-NMMG since 1992 when Dr. Steve Harwood, a physician at Bay Pines VA Medical Center, recruited him for the group, which is made up primarily of medical personnel from the Veterans Administration hospital, but is open to outside musicians, including nonveterans.
In fact, Klotz himself doesn’t work in the medical field. He’s been a network administrator at Nielsen Media Research in Oldsmar for almost 28 years. That works out well for the orchestra, since he doubles as its Web site administrator.
Klotz went to Saint Petersburg College in the ’70s, shortly after graduating from high school. He was pursuing a music degree, but didn’t finish school. Eventually, he got a job at the north county company, which is primarily known for measuring television viewership.
Later, through the company’s corporate volunteer program, he pursued his love of music and specialized in the horn.
It might seem unusual, but he and the orchestra don’t get together too often to practice, instead meeting at a large hall or room in their host city.
For the ceremony at the military’s headquarters on Feb. 6, they met up a few days before the show at the hall not far from the heart of the nation’s capitol.
A few years ago, in 2002, the group was honored by another District of Columbia organization with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s “Bob Hope” award.
“We are especially proud of that,” said Klotz.
He has been a member of the Tampa Bay Symphony since about 1988, but his start began in 1992 when Harwood introduced him to the group.
It’s not a free ride for the members. They have to pay a $75 yearly membership fee as well as their own travel and lodging expenses.
Checkpoint security
Getting the members through the front door of the military’s headquarters was no small feat, Klotz said. He had to gather social security numbers, addresses and identification just to pass security.
Once inside the auditorium, the VA-NMMG played its usual repertoire, which included classical music, popular tunes and patriotic songs, including “God Bless the USA,” Lee Greenwood’s famous number.
It may have been a canned audience, but Klotz remembers hearing the voice of soloist and U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Antonio Giuliano for the presentation, which was videotaped and sent through the Internet to military installations and veterans administration facilities worldwide.
The group’s next event is June 13 at the Cannon Caucus Room, according to its Web site.
Klotz looks forward to playing again.
“I get a lot of fulfillment giving something to the veterans,” said Klotz.
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