Two Lexington musicians bring their talent to “The Patriots,” a band with one mission: to honor our heroes – our veterans.

Bruce Clark and Bob Michalski are part of this ensemble set to play two tribute concerts over Memorial Day weekend.

Clark directed several Lexington-area middle and high school bands before retiring.

He has twice been included in “Who’s Who of American Teachers.”

He also taught Low Brass and Jazz Ensemble Improvisation at Columbia College.

Bob Michalski, known in regional musical circles as The Reedman because of his versatility on sax and clarinet, also plays with The Sensational Epics band which has been inducted into the South Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame.

Michalski has played with Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Lettermen, the Temptations, Dizzy Gillespie, and the big bands of Guy Lombardo, Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Cab Calloway.

The idea for creating a band dedicated to honoring veterans crystallized when Bob Hickman played for an event at a veterans’ retirement home, Victory House, in Charleston.

For more than 30 years, he has been music director, saxophonist, clarinetist and vocalist for “The Moonlighters.”

Hickman is a Korean War Veteran. Mrs. Hickman is an Honor Flight guardian who accompanied 9 veterans to Washington, DC.

After months of planning, recruiting musicians, and choosing music, the Hickman’s long-time dream was realized when The Patriots performed their first concert for veterans earlier this spring at the Stone Veterans Pavilion in Columbia.

Some members of The Patriots band have advanced degrees in music; others have never had a lesson, but can play anything they hear.

Besides playing with The Patriots, most of the musicians also play in other area bands. Clark arranges for and conducts the orchestra at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, and plays lead trombone with the Dick Goodwin Big Band.

Michalski’s music is integral to his work as Activities Assistant in Assisted Living at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community.

For their debut concert, The Patriots’ musical line-up ranged from rousing patriotic music, of course, then ran the gamut of swing, blues, show tunes, country, Dixieland, and rhythm and blues.

For information about The Patriots Band: thepatriotsband@gmail.com.